Eriachne glauca R. Br. Prodr. 284
(1810).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Micrairoideae. Eriachneae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia, Carpentaria, Sweers Is,: Brown 6262 (BM
holo, BR, E, F, G, K, US).
Key references
(books and floras): [1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus (184), [1878]
G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (628), [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of
Western Australia 1 Gramineae (48), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass,
Grasses of Australia.
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect, 45–120 cm tall. Mid-culm nodes glabrous or bearded.
Lateral branches branched. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute, 250
cm long, 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, glabrous or indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle oblong or ovate, 3–8.5(–14) cm long,
1.5–3(–5) cm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, both fertile, comprising 2 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, ovate, laterally compressed, 3–4 mm
long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, membranous, without
keels, 9–11 -nerved. Lower glume surface indumented. Lower glume apex muticous
or mucronate. Upper glume ovate, 3–5.8(–7) mm long, membranous, without keels,
9–11 -nerved. Upper glume surface smooth or scabrous or tuberculate,
indumented. Upper glume apex muticous or mucronate.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 2.8–5.5 mm long, without keel, 5–7 -nerved. Lemma surface
indumented. Lemma apex awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn 7–15(–25) mm
long overall. Palea apex erose or dentate. Grain 2 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland.
Western Australia:
Gardner, Fitzgerald, Dampier. Fortescue. Northern Territory: Darwin
& Gulf, Victoria River. Queensland: Burke, Cook, North Kennedy.
Notes. Endemic.
N of 20ºS in Qld, N.T. and W.A.
Infra-specific taxa: var. glauca, var. barbinodis.
Nodes glabrous E. glauca var. glauca
Nodes bearded E. glauca var. barbinodis
