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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Cleistochloa rigida

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 30–80 cm long; wiry; 8–20 -noded. Culm-nodes pubescent. Lateral branches ample. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths smooth; pilose; outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.4–0.8 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 2–10 cm long; 1.5–5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; smooth; pilose. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 4–9 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; 0.4–1.2 cm long; bearing 2–6 fertile spikelets on each lower branch; bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–2 mm long; scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; subacute; 4.3–5.6 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus glabrous; base truncate.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Upper glume elliptic; 3.3–4.9 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of spikelet; scarious; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface villous. Upper glume margins eciliate. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of fertile lemma; membranous; 5–7 -veined; villous; ciliate on margins; acute. Fertile lemma lanceolate, or elliptic; dorsally compressed; 4.3–5.6 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface granulose; with distinct germination flap. Lemma margins flat; exposing palea. Lemma apex acute. Palea coriaceous; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Disseminule comprising a spikelet.

CLEISTOGENES AND VIVIPARY Cleistogenes present; in upper sheaths.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Webster.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Cleistogenes solitary in leaf axils.

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