Ehrharta erecta* Lam. Encycl. 2:
347 (1786).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Ehrhartoideae. Tribe Ehrharteae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Africa or India, M. Sonnerat s.n."La collection
de Graminees que M. Sonnerat nous a communiquee; mais nous ne savons pas
positivement si ell est du Cap,...ou si elle est de l'Inde.
Key references
(books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (18), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2002] J.Wheeler, N.Marchant & M.Lewington, Flora of the
South West (414), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of
South Australia (56), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley &
D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales (234), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora
of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (374 as var. erecta).
Illustrations:
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (20,
Pl. 3), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South
Australia (56, fig. 20), [2008]
S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales,
4th edn (234), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae
2 (372, Fig. 50 as var. erecta).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms geniculately ascending or decumbent, 20–100 cm tall, 4–6
-noded. Mid-culm internodes glabrous or pubescent. Leaf-sheath auricles
present. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 2–7 mm long, membranous, entire or
lacerate, truncate or obtuse. Leaf-blades flat, 4–20 cm long, 2–10(–15) mm
wide.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid or compound, a raceme, a panicle. Panicle linear or
elliptic, 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, (3–)4–5.75(–6.8) mm
long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, membranous, keeled,
1-keeled, 3(–5) -nerved. Upper glume ovate, 2.5–3 mm long, membranous, without
keels, 5 -nerved. Florets. Basal sterile florets 2 or more, barren,
without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret coriaceous, 1-keeled,
5 -nerved, muticous. Lemma of upper sterile floret 3.5–6.5 mm long, muticous.
Fertile lemma 2.5–3.5
mm long, keeled, 5–7 -nerved. Palea 2 -nerved. Lodicules present. Anthers 6.
Continental
Distribution: Africa, Temperate Asia, Australasia, Pacific, and North
America.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South
Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, Lord Howe.
Western Australia:
Menzies, Warren. South Australia: Northern Lofty, Murray, Southern
Lofty, South-eastern. Queensland: Darling Downs, Moreton. New South
Wales: North Coast, Central Coast, Northern Tablelands, Southern
Tablelands, South-Western Slopes. Victoria: East Gippsland, Eastern
Highlands, Gippsland Plain, Grampians, Midlands, Otway Plain, Otway Range,
Wilsons Promontory, Riverina, Volcanic Plain, Wannon, Wimmera. Tasmania:
Midlands, South West.
Notes.
A minor weed of cultivation, especially in nurseries and gardens, extending to
roadsides and waste land.
Introduced.
