Chionochloa antarctica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Butt sheaths glossy; persistent and investing base of culm. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; 50–100 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths 10–20 cm long; without keel; glabrous on surface; inner surface glabrous. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 2 mm long. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; flat; 20–30 cm long; 4–6 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface papillose; rough adaxially; pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; pyramidal; 10–15 cm long. Panicle branches bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 18–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1 mm long. Floret callus elongated; 1 mm long; pilose; disarticulating obliquely. Floret callus hairs 2–3 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate; 8–12 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume apex acute; muticous, or awned. Upper glume lanceolate; 10–15 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex acute; muticous, or awned.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 9–12 mm long; membranous; purple; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma surface glabrous, or pilose; hairy between veins. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with triangular lobes; with lobes 3–4 mm long; incised 0.33 of lemma length; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; flat below; 15–20 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Column of lemma awn 3 mm long. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 2–3 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 8–10 mm long. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface pilose; hairy on flanks. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.75 mm long; membranous; veined; ciliate. Anthers 3–3.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: New Zealand.

NOTES Arundineae. Connor.

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