Austrochloris

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 50–100 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blade midrib evident.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes paired, or digitate; unilateral. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; dorsally compressed; 4.5–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes lower persistent, upper deciduous; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume linear; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; coriaceous; without keel; wingless; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; oblong.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid; dorsally compressed; biconvex.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.