Cyperochloa hirsuta

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; scaly. Culms 7–47 cm long; wiry. Culm-internodes solid; ridged; smooth, or scaberulous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths wider than blade at the collar; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.6–0.8 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 3–6 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle, or comprising only a few spikelets; comprising 2–5 fertile spikelets; without bracts, or bracteate at branch bases; subtended by sheathless blades; embraced at base by subtending leaf. Peduncle brief, the infloresence subsessile.

Panicle capitate; 1–1.5 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 7–9 mm long; 3–4 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.3–0.5 mm long. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume ovate; 2.6–3.6 mm long; 0.9–1 length of upper glume; membranous, or cartilaginous; without keels, or 1-keeled; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume surface smooth, or asperulous; pubescent, or pilose; hairy below; inner surface pubescent (near apex). Lower glume margins ciliate. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume ovate; 2.6–3.6 mm long; 0.6–0.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous, or cartilaginous; 1-keeled; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous; pubescent, or pilose; hairy below. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 4–5 mm long; membranous, or cartilaginous; keeled; 5–7 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous, or papillose; rough above; pilose; hairy below; inner surface pilose (near apex). Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 0.75–1 length of lemma. Palea keels thickened; ciliolate. Palea surface pilose; hairy on flanks. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; 0.5 mm long; fleshy; glabrous, or ciliate. Anthers 3; 2.2–3 mm long. Stigmas 2; laterally exserted. Styles free to the base. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; isodiametric; 1.5 mm long; granular. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Arundineae. Lazarides.

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