Chionochloa juncea

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Rootstock evident. Butt sheaths dark brown; persistent and investing base of culm. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; 40–90 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths 10–15 cm long; pilose; outer margin hairy; inner surface glabrous. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded; 4 mm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades persistent; aciculate; terete; 30–70 cm long; 1 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins ciliate. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 10–20 cm long. Panicle axis pubescent. Panicle branches flexuous; pubescent; bearded in axils; with prominent pulvini.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 10–13 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.8 mm long. Floret callus elongated; 1 mm long; bearded; disarticulating obliquely. Floret callus hairs 3 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate; 9–11 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 9–12 mm long; 1.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 6–7 mm long; membranous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliolate. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lobes 1.5 mm long; incised 0.25 of lemma length; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; curved; reflexed; flat below; 8–10 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Column of lemma awn 1 mm long. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 2.5 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 6 mm long. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface pilose; hairy on flanks. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.5 mm long; membranous; veined; ciliate. Anthers 3.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 2 mm long. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: New Zealand.

NOTES Arundineae. Connor.

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