Glyceria drummondii

HABIT Annual. Culms decumbent; 50–100 cm long; spongy. Leaf-sheaths tubular for much of their length; with 1 of their length closed; smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–15 cm long; 3–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; exserted, or embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle open; lanceolate; secund; 15–25 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–14 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 10–30 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 3–4 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume oblong; 0.5–1 mm long; 0.33 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 1.5–2.5 mm long; 0.25 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 6–8 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 1.1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels scabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Meliceae. Fl W Austral 1994.

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