Eriachne nervosa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Cataphylls evident. Rhizomes elongated; hairy. Culms erect; 60–90 cm long; 3–5 -noded. Culm-internodes smooth. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 8–17 cm long; 2–4 mm wide; glaucous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear, or oblong; 7.5–15.5 cm long; 1.5–3.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending; 1–5 cm long. Panicle axis smooth. Panicle branches smooth; bearded in axils; with prominent pulvini.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–10 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 11.5–14 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 13 -veined. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 6–8.5 mm long; membranous; without keels; 13 -veined. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; laterally compressed; 11.5–14 mm long; chartaceous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface with 2 longitudinal grooves; pilose; hairy below. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acuminate, or cuspidate; muticous, or mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 0–3 mm long overall. Palea embraced by lemma, or gaping; 1 length of lemma; chartaceous. Palea keels scabrous. Palea surface pilose; hairy below.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eriachneae. Gr C Austral 1994.

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