Eriachne basedowii

Eriachne basedowii Hartley. J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 52: 344 (1942).

Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Micrairoideae. Eriachneae.

Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information
: HT: H. Basedow 116, Apr-may 1928, Australia:
Northern Territory: Darwin and Gulf District: Arnhem Land (K; IT: ADBRI).

Key references
(books and floras):
[2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia
.

Illustrations:
[2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of Australia 44B: Poaceae 3 (Fig.
25C-F).

Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect, 35–80 cm tall, wiry. Mid-culm nodes pubescent. Lateral
branches simple. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface or hairy. Ligule a fringe of
hairs. Leaf-blades erect, filiform, involute, 5–32 cm long, 1–2 mm wide.
Leaf-blade surface scaberulous, glabrous or indumented.

Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle linear, 2.5–6 cm long, 0.7–1 cm
wide.

Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, both fertile, comprising 2
fertile floret(s), without rachilla extension, ovate, laterally compressed, 7
mm long.

Glumes.
Glumes similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate or oblong,
membranous, without keels, 9 -nerved. Lower glume surface glabrous or
indumented. Upper glume lanceolate or oblong, 7 mm long, membranous, without
keels, 9 -nerved. Upper glume surface glabrous or indumented.

Florets.
Fertile lemma 6–8 mm long, without keel, 5–7 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented.
Lemma apex awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn 1.5–3 mm long overall. Palea
apex entire or dentate, muticous. Grain 3–4 mm long.

Continental
Distribution
: Australasia.

Australian
Distribution
: Northern Territory.

Northern Territory:
Darwin & Gulf, Victoria River.

Notes.
The bulbous, woolly base, compact villous spiciform panicles, simple wiry
culms, and setaceous blades are distinguishing characters.

Endemic.
Distributed in N.T. N of 16ºS. Recorded habitats include coarse or
fine-textured sands and sandy loams, rocky or stony flats and slopes, and moist
sites in valley floors and near small watercourses. Flowers and fruits
Mar.-Aug. (autumn and winter).

AVH 2011


   

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith