Eriachne insularis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 50–60 cm long. Culm-nodes black. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades erect; filiform; convolute; 5–8 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 5–10 cm long. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 3.25–3.5 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 ovate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 9 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins prominent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 3.25–3.5 mm long; membranous; without keels; 9 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins prominent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; laterally compressed; 3 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0.5–0.75 mm long overall. Palea 0.9 length of lemma; cartilaginous. Palea surface pilose.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid; 1.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eriachneae. Domin 1994.

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