Arthragrostis aristispicula

HABIT Annual. Culms 40–80 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 2–9 cm long; 1–2.8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; pilose. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; ciliate; hairy at base.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 15–25 cm long; 2–5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 5–12 cm long. Panicle axis bearing deciduous branches. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels tip cupuliform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 6–7.5 mm long; 1–1.5 mm wide; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes and elongated below proximal fertile floret. Rhachilla elongation slender.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 3–4 mm long; 0.5–0.6 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute; mucronate. Upper glume elliptic; 5.5–7 mm long; 0.9 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 9–11 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 1–2 mm long.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; acuminate; awned. Awn of lower sterile floret 1–2 mm long. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.5 mm long; indurate; pallid; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Simon 1995.

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