Lepturus geminatus

HABIT Perennial. Culms decumbent; 30–120 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 10–18 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; moniliform; bilateral; 2–4.5 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; flattened; puberulous on surface; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial; opposite; regular; 2 -rowed. Rhachis internodes oblong; 5–6.5 mm long. Rhachis internode tip transverse; notched.

Spikelets sunken; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 5–6 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus base acute; inserted.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Upper glume lanceolate; 5–6 mm long; 1.2–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 11–13 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous. Upper glume apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 10–17 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 4–4.3 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma apex truncate, or obtuse. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above. Rhachilla extension 0.25 length of fertile floret.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 2 mm long. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Leptureae. WDC.

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