Eragrostis setifolia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Cataphylls evident. Rhizomes absent, or short. Butt sheaths glabrous, or sparsely hairy. Culms 22–45 cm long; wiry; 3–6 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades erect, or ascending; flat, or involute; 4–13 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open, or contracted; linear, or lanceolate, or ovate; 7–10 cm long; 1.2–2.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 1.5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 10–30 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or oblong; laterally compressed; 10–20 mm long; 1.5 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 0.7–0.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or ovate; 1.25–1.75 mm long; membranous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong, or ovoid; 0.9 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Gr C Austral 1994.

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