Lachnagrostis limitanea

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–45 cm long; 5 -noded. Culm-internodes antrorsely scabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths loose; scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3 mm long; scaberulous on abaxial surface; acute. Leaf-blades involute; 3–12 cm long; 1.5–2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; scabrous; rough on both sides. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle open; pyramidal; effuse; 8–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches whorled at most nodes. Panicle branches capillary; scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels clavate; 3–6 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; subacute; 2.5–5.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 1.2 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.7 mm long; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 1.7 mm long; hyaline; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure; extending close to apex. Lemma apex erose; truncate; muticous. Palea 1 length of lemma; hyaline. Rhachilla extension 0.5 mm long; glabrous, or pilose.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.6 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Aveneae. Vickery 1994.

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