Ehrharta pusilla * Nees. Fl. Afr.
Illus. Monogr. 223 (1841).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Ehrhartoideae. Tribe Ehrharteae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: IST: Drége Hb. Seidlitz, [Africa]: C. b.
spei (LE).
Key references
(books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (21), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2002] J.Wheeler, N.Marchant & M.Lewington, Flora of the
South West (415), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae
2 (374).
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).
Habit. Annual.
Culms prostrate, 5–90 cm tall. Mid-culm internodes pubescent. Leaf-sheath
auricles absent. Ligule an eciliate membrane or a fringed membrane, a ciliolate
membrane, 1–2 mm long, membranous. Leaf-blades flat or conduplicate, 1.5–11 cm
long, 2–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle of spikes. Panicle linear, 3–13 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, 4–6 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, herbaceous,
without keels, 5–7 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, 4.1–4.9 mm long,
herbaceous, without keels, 5–7 -nerved. Florets. Basal sterile florets 2
or more, barren, without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret 100 %
of length of spikelet, cartilaginous, 1-keeled, 5 -nerved, awned. Lemma of upper
sterile floret 4.5–5.3 mm long, awned.
Fertile lemma 4.3–4.5
mm long, keeled, 5–7 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented. Palea 2 -nerved.
Lodicules present. Anthers 6.
Continental
Distribution: Africa and Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia.
Western Australia:
Warren.
Notes.
Introduced (but doubtfully naturalised). Restricted to W.A. Flowers Feb.
