Lepturus xerophilus

HABIT Annual. Culms geniculately ascending; 30–60 cm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 2.5–10 cm long; 2–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; straight, or flexuous; bilateral; 2–7 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; subcylindrical and excavated; puberulous on surface; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial; regular; 2 -rowed. Rhachis internodes oblong; 5–7 mm long. Rhachis internode tip transverse; flat.

Spikelets sunken; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 4–6 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus base truncate; attached transversely.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Upper glume lanceolate; 4–6 mm long; 1.4–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 11 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous. Upper glume apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 2–14 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.8–3 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface asperulous. Lemma apex acute. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Rhachilla extension 0.2 length of fertile floret.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp; oblong; dorsally compressed; 2 mm long. Embryo 0.6 length of caryopsis. Hilum elliptic.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Leptureae. WDC.

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