Dichelachne hirtella

HABIT Annual, or perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–60(–150) cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 1–1.5 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 7–15 cm long; 1–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; glabrous, or puberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle 25–55 cm long.

Panicle spiciform; linear; (6–)8–15(–25) cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 6.5–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pilose. Floret callus hairs 1–1.8 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 6.5–10 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 6.5–10 mm long; 1–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; 6–8 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled; lightly keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; geniculate; (15–)20–26(–30) mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn puberulous; with 0.3 mm long hairs. Palea linear; 4.5–6.5 mm long. Palea surface glabrous, or pubescent; hairy on back and on margins.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 2–3; 0.5 mm long, or 1–1.5 mm long; retained within floret, or eventually exserted.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Aveneae. Walsh 1997.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Awn arising 1–2mm from tip.

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