Spinifex

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes absent (3), or elongated (1). Stolons present. Culms decumbent (1/1); 30–58.75–90 cm long; woody. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades herbaceous (1), or indurate (3); stiff. Leaf-blade apex muticous (1), or pungent (3).

INFLORESCENCE Dioecious. Synflorescence compound; stellate. Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary; deciduous as a whole; subtended by a spatheole; embraced at base by subtending leaf. Spatheole expanded; lanceolate; scarious.

Racemes single; radiating; unilateral; bearing 1 spikelet. Rhachis subterete; terminating in a barren extension; extension subulate (3), or bristle-like (1). Spikelet packing abaxial.

Spikelets appressed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile. Male spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or elliptic (1); dorsally compressed; 6–11.18–18 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus pubescent (2/2).

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, or elliptic (1); membranous (1), or chartaceous; without keels; 7–8 -veined (3), or 9 -veined. Lower glume surface without pits; glabrous, or puberulous (2), or pubescent (1). Lower glume apex acute (2), or acuminate (2). Upper glume lanceolate (3), or elliptic (1), or ovate (1); membranous (1), or chartaceous; without keels; 5 -veined (1), or 7 -veined (3), or 8–9 -veined (2). Upper glume surface glabrous, or puberulous (2), or pubescent (1). Upper glume apex acute (2), or acuminate (2).

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate (3), or elliptic (1), or ovate (1); chartaceous, or cartilaginous (1); 5 -veined, or 6–9 -veined (2); acute (2), or acuminate (2). Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma lanceolate (3), or ovate (1); membranous; of similar consistency on margins (1), or much thinner on margins (3); without keel; wingless; 5 -veined (1/1). Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma apex acute (2), or acuminate (2).

FLOWER Anthers 3 (1/1).

MALE Male inflorescence unlike female; a single raceme. Male spikelets distinct from female; lanceolate (3/3). Male spikelet glumes 2.

DISTRIBUTION Temperate Asia (1), or Tropical Asia (2), or Australasia, or Pacific (3).

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