Distichlis australis

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 2–5 cm long. Leaves distichous. Leaf-sheaths 0.2–0.3 cm long; longer than adjacent culm internode. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.2 mm long. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 0.1–0.5 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex obtuse; muticous.

INFLORESCENCE Dioecious. Inflorescence comprising only a few spikelets; comprising 1 fertile spikelets; shorter than basal leaves.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels linear; 1–5 mm long; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 3.5–4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; scarious; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume ovate; 3.5–4 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; 1-keeled; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma ovate; 3.5–4 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 5–11 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.8 mm long.

MALE Male inflorescence similar to female. Male spikelets similar to female but less developed; 1–3(–4) flowered; persistent; elliptic; 5 mm long. Male spikelet glumes 2. Male spikelet lemma 7–9 -veined; muticous.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl Pat 1993.

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