Amphipogon avenaceus

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; scaly. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 20–35 cm long; 3–5 -noded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 5–15 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; oblong; 4 cm long; 1 cm wide. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with evident branchlets on axis. Panicle axis pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; 1–3 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 12–13 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1.5–2.5 mm long; pubescent; acute. Floret callus hairs 0.2 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 12–13 mm long; 1.2 length of upper glume; scarious; much thinner on margins; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 10–12 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; with membranous margins; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 8–9 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy all along. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex lobed; 3 -fid; with margins splitting into evanescent supplementary lobes; incised 0.5–0.6 of lemma length; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 4 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 4 mm long; subequal to principal. Palea oblong; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back; hairy above. Palea apex lobed; 2 -fid; acuminate; awned.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Arundineae. Vickery.

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