Eriachne humilis

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 15–30 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Leaf-sheaths loose; striately veined; hispid. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; 0.5–1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 3–5 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; ovate; 1–3 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches 0.4–1.5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 4–15 mm long; tip widened.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic, or obovate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 9–11 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins prominent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic, or obovate; 4 mm long; membranous; without keels; 9–11 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins prominent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or ovate; laterally compressed; 3.5 mm long; chartaceous; yellow; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins prominent. Lemma surface villous. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 2–3 mm long overall. Palea elliptic; 1 length of lemma; chartaceous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Papuasia. Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eriachneae. Hartley 1994.

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