Deyeuxia pungens

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 50–100 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4–11 mm long; scarious; lacerate; acute. Leaf-blades erect; involute; 20–45 cm long; 1.5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; scabrous. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; continuous, or interrupted; 10–30 cm long; 0.5–2.5 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pilose. Floret callus hairs 1 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acuminate; muticous, or mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4–5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acuminate; muticous, or mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4–5 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface smooth, or asperulous. Lemma apex erose; truncate; muticous, or mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 0.5 mm long overall. Rhachilla extension 0.3 mm long; glabrous, or pilose; hairy at tip.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 2 mm long. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform. Disseminule comprising a floret.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Aveneae. Walsh 1997.

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