Ancistrachne maidenii

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent; 30–100 cm long; wiry; 8–20 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.4–0.6 mm long. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; flat, or involute; 1–4 cm long; 1–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; paucilateral; 3–10 cm long. Spikelet packing abaxial.

Spikelets solitary, or in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 1–2 in the cluster.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; obtuse; 2.5–3 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus attached transversely.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure, or two; dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; clasping; 0–0.25 mm long; 0–0.1 length of spikelet; hyaline; without keels; 0–3 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 2.5–3 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; scarious; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface hispidulous; with tubercle-based hairs (curved). Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7–9 -veined; ribbed; hispidulous; with tubercle-based hairs (curved); acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.2–2.7 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma margins flat. Lemma apex acute; mucronate. Palea coriaceous.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Vickery.

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