Eragrostis jacobsiana

HABIT Annual, or perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 20–60 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 2–3 mm long. Leaf-blades 5–9 cm long; 2–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 8–25 cm long; 2–4 cm wide. Panicle branches bearded in axils; with prominent pulvini.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 7–44 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–17 mm long; 2.5–3 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes curved.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1–1.2 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.5–1.6 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; gibbous; 2–2.5 mm long; membranous; purple; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma surface asperulous; glabrous. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea ovate, or orbicular; with flaps narrower than body; bowed outwards; 2–2.5 mm long. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged; smooth; ciliate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 2–3; 0.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; orbicular; isodiametric; 0.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Australia 2006.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.