Deyeuxia echidnae

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 6–9 mm long. Leaf-blades aciculate; involute; 7–9 cm long; 1.5–1.8 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; 11 cm long; 3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 2 -nate; 3.5 cm long; bearing 8 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle axis smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 4.5–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus bearded. Floret callus hairs 2–2.5 mm long; 0.66 length of lemma.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 4.5–5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; purple; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4.5–5 mm long; 1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; purple; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3–3.2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface smooth; glabrous. Lemma apex dentate; 4 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.66 way up back of lemma; straight; 1 mm long overall; not or scarcely exserted from spikelet. Rhachilla extension 1.25 mm long; pilose; with 1.25 mm long hairs.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 1 mm long; retained within floret. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Papuasia.

NOTES Aveneae. Veldkamp 1997.

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