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 nigricans

HABIT Perennial. Culms 30–40 cm long. Culm-internodes distally pubescent. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; with simple hairs and capitate hairs. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle antrorsely scabrous above.

Panicle spiciform; lanceolate, or oblong; 3–7 cm long; 1–1.5 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–5 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; 4–5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume surface smooth, or asperulous; glabrous, or pubescent. Lower glume apex obtuse to acuminate. Upper glume ovate; 4–5 mm long; 1.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous; glabrous, or pubescent. Upper glume apex obtuse to acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma orbicular; 2.5–3 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface pilose; hairy below (0.66–0.75 of length); inner surface transversely fringed. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex dentate; 9 -fid; awned; 9 -awned. Principal lemma awn 5–6 mm long overall; 2 length of lemma; limb plumose; glabrescent towards tip. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; subequal to principal; plumose. Palea 2.5–3 mm long; 1 length of lemma; membranous. Palea keels ciliate; adorned above; with 0.5–0.75 of their length adorned. 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; 1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid, or obovoid; plano-convex; 1.3–2.2 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Pappophoreae. Kakudidi.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Lemma hairs less than base of awns.

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