Chionochloa ovata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; 20–45 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths 5–10 cm long; pubescent; inner surface glabrous. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate; 2 mm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 3.5 mm long. Leaf-blades tortuous; deciduous at the ligule; 10–25 cm long; 3–5 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins smooth to scabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle pubescent above.

Panicle open, or contracted; ovate; 5–10 cm long. Panicle axis pilose. Panicle branches pilose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–8 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 11–14 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.75 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; 0.6–0.7 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1–5 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 14–16 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 12–14 mm long; membranous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lobes 6–7 mm long; incised 0.5 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned, or 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; curved; reflexed; flat below; 15–20 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Column of lemma awn 1.5 mm long. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 0–5 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 9 mm long. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface pilose; hairy on flanks. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 1 mm long; membranous; veined; ciliate. Anthers 3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 3.25 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.