Spathia

HABIT Annual. Culms 15–30 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary; subtended by a spatheole; enclosed. Spatheole lanceolate; membranous.

Racemes digitate. Rhachis fragile at the nodes. Rhachis internodes filiform, or linear. Rhachis internode tip oblique; cupuliform.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform; tip oblique.

STERILE SPIKELETS Basal sterile spikelets well-developed.

Companion sterile spikelets well-developed; separately deciduous. Companion sterile spikelet callus oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 5.5–6.2 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus bearded; base obtuse; attached obliquely.

GLUMES Glumes exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; coriaceous; without keels; 6–8 -veined. Lower glume surface tuberculate; without pits; pilose; with a transverse fringe of hair. Lower glume apex dentate; 2 -fid. Upper glume lanceolate; coriaceous; with hyaline margins; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein ciliate. Upper glume surface villous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; hyaline; 0 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma linear; hyaline; without keel; wingless; 1 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous; truncate. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia.

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