Enneapogon caerulescens

HABIT Annual, or perennial. Culms 10–40 cm long. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; terminal, or terminal and axillary. Axillary inflorescences present in lower axils; different from terminal (smaller). Peduncle antrorsely scabrous above.

Panicle capitate; oblong, or ovate; 1–2 cm long; 1–1.5 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; heteromorphic (the distal longer).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–2 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 2.7–9.2 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; 2.7–9.2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent, or pilose; with simple hairs, or capitate hairs. Lower glume apex entire, or erose; emarginate, or truncate. Upper glume ovate; 2.7–9.2 mm long; 1.5–3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent, or pilose; with simple hairs, or capitate hairs. Upper glume apex entire, or erose; obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma orbicular; 1.6–1.8 mm long; membranous, or cartilaginous; without keel; 9–11 -veined. Lemma lateral veins ribbed. Lemma surface pilose; hairy below (0.33–0.5 of length); inner surface transversely fringed. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex dentate; 9 -fid; awned; 9 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3–10 mm long overall; 2–3 length of lemma; limb plumose; with 1.5–2 mm long hairs; glabrescent towards tip. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; subequal to principal; plumose. Palea membranous. Palea keels ciliate; adorned above; with 0.5–0.66 of their length adorned; with hairs 0.2–0.3 mm long. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back; hairy all along. Apical sterile florets 3–4 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 obovoid; concavo-convex; 1.2–2 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

CLEISTOGENES AND VIVIPARY Cleistogenes absent, or present; in lower sheaths.

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.