GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Echinopogon intermedius

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 55–90 cm long; 3–4 -noded. Culm-internodes retrorsely scabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths retrorsely scabrous; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 2.5–13 cm long; 3–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle straight; retrorsely scabrous above.

Panicle spiciform, or capitate; oblong, or ovate; 3–6 cm long; 2–4 cm wide.

Spikelets ascending, or spreading; solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 5–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus brief; bearded. Floret callus hairs 2 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous; ciliate. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 5–7 mm long; 1.2–1.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous; ciliate. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4–5 mm long; cartilaginous; keeled; 5–7 -veined. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 10–25 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 2–2.5 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5–2 mm long. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 3–3.5 mm long; glabrous. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Aveneae. CEH.

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