Arundinella montana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms 30–90 cm long; 5–13 -noded. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose; outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.5–0.7 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades involute; 5–19 cm long; 1.5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; bearing juvenile spikelets at emergence.

Panicle open; linear, or lanceolate; 8–23 cm long; 1–3 cm wide; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches appressed; 1–7 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle axis scabrous. Panicle branches secund.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels 0.3–3 mm long; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 4–5.2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus bearded; obtuse. Floret callus hairs 1 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny; gaping. Lower glume ovate; 3.3–4.7 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3–7 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 1.1 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 1.4–1.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 1-keeled; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea; persisting on inflorescence. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 3.4–4.5 mm long; membranous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined; obtuse. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.75–3 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface asperulous. Lemma margins involute; interlocking with palea keels; ciliolate. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 3.8–6 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 1–2 mm long. Palea with auriculate flaps; coriaceous; 2 -veined. Palea surface asperulous.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 1.7–2 mm long. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid, or oblong; 1.4 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Arundinelleae. Blake 1993.

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