Arthragrostis clarksoniana

HABIT Annual; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; slender; 40–80 cm long; 2–4 -noded. Lateral branches sparse. Leaf-sheaths without keel. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate; 3–10 cm long; 20 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose. Leaf-blade margins smooth; tuberculate-ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 23–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading; 10–21 cm long; bearing 15–25 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle axis bearing deciduous branches. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2–12 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or ovate; dorsally compressed; 3.5–4 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes and elongated below proximal fertile floret. Rhachilla elongation slender.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic, or ovate; 3.5–4 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume surface pilose; hairy below; with tubercle-based hairs. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 3.5–4 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose; hairy below; with tubercle-based hairs. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 3–3.5 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.5 mm long; chartaceous; yellow; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Palea chartaceous.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis 1.5 mm long. Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Simon 1995.

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