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.

Enneapogon avenaceus

HABIT Annual, or perennial. Culms 7–45 cm long. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle antrorsely scabrous above.

Panicle contracted, or spiciform; linear to ovate; 3–9 cm long; 1–3 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–13.6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 4–13.6 mm long; 0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 11–23 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous, or pilose. Lower glume apex obtuse to acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 4–13.6 mm long; 2–4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 11–23 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pilose. Upper glume apex obtuse to acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblate; 1.8–3.5 mm long; coriaceous; firmer above (knuckled); much thinner on margins; without keel; 9–11 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface pilose; hairy below; inner surface transversely fringed. Lemma apex dentate; 9 -fid; awned; 9 -awned. Principal lemma awn 7–11 mm long overall; limb plumose; with 1–1.3 mm long hairs; glabrescent towards tip. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; subequal to principal; of unequal width; ciliate. Palea 1.1 length of lemma; membranous. Palea keels ciliate; adorned above. Palea surface pilose; hairy on back and on flanks; hairy above. Palea apex emarginate, or truncate. Apical sterile florets 1–2 in number; barren. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 9 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns ciliate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid, or orbicular; concavo-convex; 1–1.6 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Pappophoreae. Kakudidi.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Lemma hairs exceeding base of awns.

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