Arthragrostis deschampsioides

HABIT Annual. Culms 17–50 cm long; 4 -noded. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.5–0.8 mm long. Leaf-blades 2–9 cm long; 1–2.8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; hirsute; with tubercle-based hairs. 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 8–25 mm long; tip cupuliform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 4–5 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated below proximal fertile floret. Rhachilla elongation slender.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous. Lower glume apex acute; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 0–1.5 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 3–4.5 mm long; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex acuminate; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0–2 mm long.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 9 -veined; ribbed; acuminate; muticous, or awned. Awn of lower sterile floret 0–2.5 mm long. Fertile lemma elliptic; 1.5–1.7 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel; 5–7 -veined. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free brittle pericarp; dorsally compressed; 1.2–1.4 mm long. Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. WDC.

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