Dichelachne parva

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 15–35 cm long; 2 -noded. Culm-internodes smooth, or scaberulous; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths smooth, or scaberulous; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades 4–8 cm long; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or puberulous; hairy abaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 15–30 fertile spikelets. Peduncle 25–55 cm long.

Panicle open; ovate; 3–8 cm long; 1–2 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 3.5–5.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.5 mm long; pubescent. Floret callus hairs 0.5–1 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 3.5–5.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner on margins; 1-keeled; keeled above; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.5–5.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with hyaline margins; 1-keeled; keeled above; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3.5–4.5 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled; lightly keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; flexuous; 10–15 mm long overall. Palea 3.5–4 mm long.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 0.25 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; sulcate on hilar side; 3 mm long; light brown.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Aveneae. Simon 1995.

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