Eriachne pallescens R. Br. Prodr. 184(1810).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Micrairoideae. Eriachneae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia, Endeavour R.: Banks & Solander (BM holo).
Recent synonyms:
E. anomala (syn. of var. gracilis), E. muelleri, E.
yarrabensis.
Key references
(books and floras): [1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus (184), [1878]
G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (630), [1969] E.E.Henty, Manual Grasses
New Guinea (100), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses
of Australia, [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales (261).
Illustrations:
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales, 4th edn (261).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect, 23–105 cm tall, wiry. Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Lateral
branches branched. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute, 5–18 cm
long, 1–3.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous, glabrous or indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle ovate, 6–15 cm long, 3–9 cm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, both fertile, comprising 2
fertile floret(s), without rachilla extension, ovate, laterally compressed,
3.5–4 mm long.
Glumes.
Glumes similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, membranous,
without keels, 8–9(–13) -nerved. Lower glume surface glabrous or indumented.
Upper glume ovate, membranous, without keels, 9 -nerved. Upper glume surface
smooth or scabrous, glabrous or indumented.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 3.3–5 mm long, without keel, 7 -nerved. Lemma surface glabrous or
indumented. Lemma apex awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn 1.5–8 mm long
overall. Palea 2 -nerved. Palea apex entire or dentate, awned (2). Anthers 2.
Grain 1.7–3.3 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia, and Pacific.
Australian
Distribution: Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales.
Northern Territory:
Darwin & Gulf. Queensland: Burnett, Cook, Leichhardt, Moreton, North
Kennedy, Port Curtis, South Kennedy, Wide Bay. New South Wales: North
Coast.
Notes. Native.
Qld. and N.T., recorded for the N Coast of N.S.W. by Wheeler et al.
(1990), but no specimens seen. Also in Maleisia, India, Burma, Thailand, S
China and the Caroline Is.
Infra-specific taxa: var. pallescens, var. gracilis
Spikelets normally
1-flowered; lower glume 2.5–3.5 mm long; inflorescence 6–8 cm long, 30–60 mm
wide; plants 2.3–6 cm high E. pallescens var.gracilis
Spikelets normally
2-flowered; lower glume 2.5– 6.3 mm long; inflorescence 7–15 cm long, 40–90 mm
wide; plants 4.5–10.5 cm high E. pallescens var. pallescens
