Glyceria australis

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent; 30–60 cm long; 4–6 -noded; rooting from lower nodes. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths loose; tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–5 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades 9–18 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; interrupted; 15–27 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2 -nate; simple; 0.2–2 cm long; bearing 1 fertile spikelets on each lower branch.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 7–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 20–35 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 2–3 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 4–5.5 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–7 mm long; 0.7–0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 7–10 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged. Palea surface scaberulous. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; united; oblong; fleshy; truncate. Anthers 3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; 3.5 mm long. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Meliceae. Hubbard 1994.

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