Enneapogon cylindricus

HABIT Perennial. Butt sheaths pubescent. Culms slender; 10–50 cm long; 3–4 -noded; disarticulating at the nodes (all nodes). Culm-internodes channelled; distally pubescent, or pilose. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; involute; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle antrorsely scabrous above.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 3–14 cm long; 0.5–1.5 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 3–7 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; 3–7 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; obtuse; muticous, or mucronate. Upper glume ovate; 3–7 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; muticous, or mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; narrowly proportioned, or moderately prportioned; 1.8–2.3 mm long; membranous, or cartilaginous; without keel; 9–11 -veined. Lemma lateral veins ribbed. Lemma surface pilose; hairy below; inner surface transversely fringed. Lemma margins ciliate; hairy below. Lemma apex dentate; 9 -fid; awned; 9 -awned. Principal lemma awn 2.2–5.4 mm long overall; limb ciliate (lower 0.5–0.66 of length). Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; subequal to principal; ciliate. Palea 1.3–1.4 length of lemma; membranous. Palea keels scaberulous; eciliate; adorned above; with 0.5–0.75 of their length adorned. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back and on flanks. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid; muticous, or with excurrent keel veins, or awned. Rhachilla extension glabrous, or sparsely hairy; hairy throughout but longer above. Apical sterile florets 2–3 in number; barren; in a clump. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 9 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns ciliate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 1.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid, or obovoid; plano-convex; 1.4–2 mm long; obtuse. Hilum punctiform.

CLEISTOGENES AND VIVIPARY Cleistogenes present; in upper sheaths and in lower sheaths.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Pappophoreae. Kakudidi.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Lemma hairs reaching base of awns.

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