Stenostachys gracilis

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent; weak; 30–100 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 7–15 cm long; 2–4 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 7–20 cm long; bearing 20–40 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis flattened; ciliate on margins. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; lax. Rhachis internodes oblong.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1–2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension, or with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 7–16 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.5 mm long; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes both absent or obscure.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 6–7 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface asperulous to scabrous. Lemma apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 1–3 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Ovary pubescent on apex.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; hairy at apex.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: New Zealand.

NOTES Triticeae. Cheeseman 1994.

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