Eragrostis exigua
LazaridesDelicate, tufted annual, culms ascending, erect or semi-prostrate, sometimes branched, to 25 cm high (rarely more). Leaves glabrous; blade flat or inrolled, to 15 cm long and 6 mm wide, scabrous on upper surface and on thickened pale margins. Inflorescence an open, oblong to narrowly pyramidal panicle to 15 cm long and 5 cm wide (more than half the length of the culm), with widely spreading or deflexed branches, lower branches solitary or paired. Spikelet 2–5-flowered, 0.5–1.5 mm long and 0.5–1.2 mm wide, pale green, pinkish, or almost colourless, all segments thinly membranous; glumes obtuse, subequal, 0.5–1 mm long; lemma c. 0.5 mm long, obtuse, conspicuously nerved; palea slightly shorter than lemma; anthers c. 0.2 mm long. Flowers recorded Apr. and Aug.
MuM, RobP, MuF, NIS. Extremely rare in Victoria, known by a few recent collections, e.g. from Barmah Forest and Karadoc near Red Cliffs, and 1853 specimens from 'King River' (probably near Wangaratta). All specimens appear to have been collected from stream banks, a habitat consistent with its occurrences in northern parts of Australia where locally common.
Walsh, N.G. (1994). Poaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 2, Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and Monocotyledons, pp. 356–627. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
