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.

Anthoxanthum fuscum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms 60–120 cm long; 4–5 -noded. Leaf-sheaths 5–25 cm long; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–5 mm long; erose. Leaf-blades 30–75 cm long; 8–12 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation comprising 40 vascular bundles. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; with rectangular ribs; scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 15–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1–2 -nate.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–1 mm long; puberulous to villous; hairy above.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume ovate; 6 mm long; 0.66 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 9 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; much thinner above; with scarious margins; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets similar; male; with palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 7 mm long; 1 length of fertile lemma; chartaceous; dark brown; 1-keeled; scabrous; pilose; hairy at base; ciliate on margins; erose; obtuse; awned. Awn of lower sterile floret dorsal; arising 0.75 way up back of lemma; straight; 5–7 mm long. Palea of lower sterile floret pubescent; adorned on keels. Lemma of upper sterile floret oblong; 1 length of lower sterile floret; chartaceous; scabrous; ciliate on margins; erose; obtuse; awned. Awn of upper sterile floret dorsal; arising 0.75 way up back of lemma; straight; 5–7 mm long. Fertile lemma ovate; 5 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex pubescent; muticous, or mucronate. Principal lemma awn subapical; 0–1 mm long overall. Palea elliptic; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 2 (bisexual), or 3 (male); 3 mm long. Stigmas plumose. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: New Zealand.

NOTES Aveneae. Zotov 1994.

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