Eragrostis jerichoensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–45 cm long. Culm-internodes semiterete. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 2 mm long. Leaf-blades 3–9 cm long; 2–2.5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 6–7 cm long; 3–4 cm wide. Panicle branches with insignificant pulvini.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels eglandular, or glandular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising (3–)6–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate, or orbicular; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 3–4 mm long; 2–4 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes curved.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; recurved at apex. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.6–2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein smooth. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.6–2 mm long; 1.1–1.25 length of adjacent fertile lemma; cartilaginous; purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein smooth. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate, or obovate; 1.5–1.6 mm long; membranous; pallid; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface granulose. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea elliptic; 1 length of lemma. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged; scabrous; eciliate, or ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.7 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Australia 2006.

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