Dichelachne crinita

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 50–100 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 8–20 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 5 mm long; 1.25 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled; lightly keeled; 1 -veined. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse (easily splitting); awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.5–0.66 way up back of lemma; flexuous; 20–25 mm long overall; 4–6 length of lemma. Palea 0.75 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate.

FLOWER Anthers 2; 0.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Endosperm liquid.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Papuasia. Australasia: Australia and New Zealand. Pacific: southwestern, south-central, and north-central.

NOTES Aveneae. Tothill.

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