Austroderia turbaria

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms robust; 100–200 cm long. Leaf-sheaths hirsute. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 50–100 cm long; 5–10 mm wide; firm. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 15–30 cm long. Panicle branches hirsute.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; similar to fertile lemma in texture; shiny; gaping. Lower glume linear; 20 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface hirsute. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume linear; 20 mm long; 3–4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface hirsute. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 5–7 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface hirsute. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lobes 0.5–1 mm long. Palea 5–7 mm long; hyaline; 2 -veined. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy. Anthers 3; 2–5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: New Zealand.

NOTES Arundineae. Connor 2001.

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