Austrochloris dichanthioides

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 50–100 cm long; 4–7 -noded. Leaves cauline. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 5–12 cm long; 3 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib evident.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–3; paired, or digitate; unilateral; 6–12 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; dorsally compressed; 4.5–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes lower persistent, upper deciduous; dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume linear; 4.5–5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4.5–5 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 2.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent; hairy above. Lemma margins ciliate; hairy above. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1.5–3 mm long overall. Apical sterile florets 1 in number; barren; oblong. Apical sterile lemmas winged on margins (above).

FLOWER Anthers 3; 0.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; ellipsoid; dorsally compressed; biconvex.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Cynodonteae. Tothill.

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