Eragrostis fenshamii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 30–50 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.1 mm long. Leaf-blades 3–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 17–27 cm long; 5–13 cm wide. Panicle branches with prominent pulvini.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–14 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or oblong; laterally compressed; 4–9 mm long; 1.8–2 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; rhachilla persistent; retaining paleas; becoming fragile after lemmas shed. Rhachilla internodes zig-zag; eventually visible between lemmas.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 1.2–1.6 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.8–2.2 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 2–2.6 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins distinct; close to margins. Lemma apex acute. Palea lanceolate; 1 length of lemma. Palea keels scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; isodiametric; 0.8 mm long; light brown; striate; obtuse.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Australia 2006.

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