Heterachne abortiva

HABIT Annual. Culms erect, or decumbent; 10–35 cm long; 3–5 -noded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 5–16 cm long; 1–2.5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; oblong; continuous, or interrupted; 1.5–5 cm long; 1–2 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile, or pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; 0.5 mm long; ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or ovate; laterally compressed; compressed strongly; 3–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating above glumes but not between florets. Rhachilla internodes definite; zig-zag.

GLUMES Glumes deciduous; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 1–1.5 mm long; 0.6 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1.8–2.5 mm long; 0.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2.6–3.5 mm long; membranous; keeled; winged on keel; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliolate; hairy above. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea bowed outwards; 0.75 length of lemma. Palea keels winged; conspicuously winged; ciliolate. Apical sterile florets 4–22 in number; barren; in a clump (fan-like); oblong; 2.5–3 mm long. Apical sterile lemmas winged on keel.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.3–0.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 1.3–1.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC.

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