Anthoxanthum rariflorum

HABIT Perennial. Rootstock evident. Cataphylls evident. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 60–100 cm long; wiry. Lateral branches ample. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; flat, or convolute; 10–20 cm long; 2–9 mm wide; aromatic. Leaf-blade apex acuminate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 4–10 cm long; 3–8 cm wide. Primary panicle branches branching divaricately. Panicle branches capillary; puberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels puberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; laterally compressed; 5–5.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny; gaping. Lower glume ovate; 2.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume margins ciliate. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume oblate; 2.5 mm long; 0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; herbaceous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets similar; male; with palea; attached to and deciduous with the fertile. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic; 4.5–5 mm long; 1 length of fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 5 -veined; scaberulous; rough above; ciliolate on margins; obtuse; muticous. Fertile lemma ovate; 4.5–5 mm long; cartilaginous; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute. Palea elliptic; 1 -veined; 1-keeled.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 2 (bisexual), or 3 (male). Stigmas plumose. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl NSW 1993.

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