Ehrharta brevi folia* Schrad. Gött.
Gel. Anz. 2: 2077 (1821).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Ehrhartoideae. Tribe Ehrharteae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Cape of Good Hope, P. Hesse s.n..
Key references
(books and floras): [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (551),
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (19),
[2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia, [2009]
A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (371, 373
as var. brevifolia, & var. cuspidata).
Illustrations:
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (20,
Pl. 3), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2
(372, Fig. 50 as var. brevifolia).
Habit. Annual.
Culms erect or geniculately ascending, 18–90 cm tall. Mid-culm internodes
glabrous. Leaf-sheath auricles absent, or present. Ligule an eciliate membrane,
0.5–2.5 mm long, membranous. Leaf-blades flat or conduplicate, 2.5–10 cm long,
3–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle linear or lanceolate, 6–20 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1 or more flowered, with 1 fertile
floret, comprising 2 basal sterile florets, comprising 1 fertile floret(s),
without rachilla extension, oblong, laterally compressed, 2.7–4.5 mm long.
Rhachilla internodes brief up to lowest fertile floret.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, hyaline, without keels
or keeled, 3–7 -nerved. Upper glume ovate, 1.4–2.4 mm long, hyaline, without
keels, 3–7 -nerved. Florets. Basal sterile florets 2 or more, barren,
without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret 50 % of length of
spikelet, cartilaginous, 1-keeled, 5 -nerved, muticous. Lemma of upper sterile
floret 2.2–4.2 mm long, mucronate.
Fertile lemma 2.5–4 mm
long, keeled, 5 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented. Palea 0–2 -nerved, without
keels. Lodicules present. Anthers 2–3.
Continental
Distribution: Africa and Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia.
Western Australia:
Carnarvon. Irwin, Drummond, Avon.
Introduced; flowers Aug.-Sept.
Infra-specific taxa: var. brevifolia, var. cuspidata .
Spikelets 3–3.5 mm
long E. brevifolia var. brevifolia
Spikelets 4–4.5 mm E. brevifolia var. cuspidata
