Eriochloa meyeriana* (Nees)
Pilger. Pflanzenfam. ed 2, 14E: 56 (1940).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Panicoideae. Paniceae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Panicum
meyerianum Nees, Fl. Afr. Austr. 1: 32 (1841).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: South Africa, Omsamculo: Drege (K iso).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia.
Habit.
Perennial. Culms decumbent or sprawling, 30–200 cm tall. Ligule a fringe of
hairs. Leaf-blades 5–25 cm long, 3–15 mm wide.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle elliptic, 8–18 cm long, contracted
about secondary branches. Racemes 10–30, 2–7 cm long. Central inflorescence
axis 8–18 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, the lower floret barren
(rarely male), the upper fertile, comprising 1 basal sterile florets,
comprising 1 fertile floret(s), without rachilla extension, elliptic, dorsally
compressed, 2.3–3.5 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
dissimilar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblate or ovate (rarely),
hyaline, without keels, 0 -nerved. Upper glume ovate, membranous, without
keels, 5 -nerved. Upper glume surface glabrous or indumented. Florets.
Basal sterile florets 1, male, with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret 90 %
of length of spikelet, 5 -nerved.
Fertile lemma 1.5–2.2
mm long, without keel. Lemma apex mucronate.
Continental
Distribution: Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, and Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Queensland, Cocos Keeling Is, Ashmore Reef, Coral Sea Is.
Queensland:
North Kennedy, South Kennedy, Leichhardt, Wide Bay.
