Scrotochloa tararaensis

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 40–45 cm long. Culm-internodes hollow. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blade base with a false petiole; petiole 2–4 cm long; petiole glabrous. Leaf-blades inverted; linear; 10–40 cm long; 4–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation slanting obliquely from midrib; with distinct cross veins. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Monoecious; with male and female spikelets in the same inflorescence. Inflorescence a panicle, or composed of racemes; deciduous as a whole.

Panicle open; ovate; 7–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches whorled at most nodes; sparsely divided; 4–8 cm long. Panicle branches stiff; straight; angular; glabrous.

Racemes 2–7; borne along a central axis; in several whorls; spreading; straight; 4–8 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 3–5 cm long. Rhachis glabrous on surface. Spikelet packing lax.

Sexes mixed. Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster; on shorter pedicels than sterile. Male spikelets pedicelled; 1 in a cluster. Pedicels filiform (male), or cuneate (female).

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets obovate; urceolate; laterally compressed; 4 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 4 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; scarious; dark brown; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface pubescent; with hooked hairs. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 4 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; dark brown; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent; with hooked hairs. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma obovate; 4 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface pubescent; with hooked hairs. Lemma margins closed except for an apical pore; covering most of palea. Lemma apex rostrate. Palea linear; 1.1 length of lemma. Palea surface pubescent; with hooked hairs.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 6; 1.5–2 mm long. Stigmas 3; terminally exserted; plumose. Styles connate below.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

MALE Male spikelets similar to female but less developed; 1 flowered; lanceolate; 3 mm long; hairy. Male spikelet glumes 2.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: Papuasia. Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Phareae. Jansen.

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