Clausospicula extensa

HABIT Annual. Culms 30–45 cm long; 5–7 -noded. Culm-internodes elliptical in section. Lateral branches sparse. Leaf-sheaths medianly thickened; pilose; with tubercle-based hairs; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.3–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 1.4–2.6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle with branches tipped by a raceme; exserted, or embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle open; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches 1–3 in number; simple.

Racemes bearing a triad of spikelets. Rhachis obsolete. Raceme-bases filiform; extended into an oblong appendage; with 4 mm long appendage; persistent.

Spikelets in threes. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels filiform; flattened; glabrous.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets represented by barren pedicels, or rudimentary, or well-developed; comprising 2 subequal glumes without lemmas; linear, or lanceolate; 5–12 mm long; separately deciduous. Companion sterile spikelet glumes membranous; thinner on margins; 7 -veined; eciliate on margins, or ciliate on margins.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; dorsally compressed; 10 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus cuneate; curved; 3–3.5 mm long; bearded; base pungent; attached obliquely; with linear scar. Spikelet callus hairs dark brown.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume obovate; coriaceous; much thinner above; dark brown; without keels; keel-less except near apex. Lower glume surface convex; rugose; rough at apex. Lower glume apex rostrate; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 2–3 mm long. Upper glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous. Upper glume apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 14–19 mm long.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 4.5–5 mm long; hyaline; 2 -veined; ciliate on margins; truncate, or obtuse. Fertile lemma linear; hyaline; 3 -veined. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn apical; geniculate; 85–105 mm long overall; with 45–60 mm long limb; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 40–55 mm long; pubescent. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; oblong, or cuneate; 0.4–0.6 mm long; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.5–1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 5.6 mm long; acute. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Lazarides.

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