Pseudochaetochloa

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 50–120 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Dioecious. Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform. Panicle axis bearing deciduous spikelet clusters.

Spikelets subtended by an involucre. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Male spikelets pedicelled. Involucre composed of bristles. Involucral bristles deciduous with the fertile spikelets; 7–12 in principal whorl; terete; flexible.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 4–6 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; membranous; without keels; 0–3 -veined. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex entire, or erose; obtuse, or acute; muticous, or mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate, or ovate; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; membranous; 5 -veined; acute, or acuminate; muticous, or mucronate. Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma lanceolate; coriaceous; without keel; wingless. Lemma surface striate; unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex acute, or acuminate; pubescent. Palea coriaceous.

MALE Male inflorescence unlike female; a panicle. Male spikelets distinct from female; lanceolate. Male spikelet glumes 2.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia.

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