Micraira compacta

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Culms prostrate; 2–3 cm long; 0.5 mm diam. Culm-internodes 0.07 cm long; estriate. Leaves cauline; spiral. Leaf-sheaths 0.3–0.4 cm long; longer than adjacent culm internode; wider than blade at the collar; ribbed; glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2 mm long. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; 4–8 cm long; 0.3–0.75 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation comprising 3–5 vascular bundles. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; pilose; with simple hairs and tubercle-based hairs (1.5–2mm long). Leaf-blade margins scaberulous; ciliate. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle 1–2 cm long; glandular; glabrous.

Panicle spiciform; oblong; 0.4–0.5 cm long; 0.15–0.2 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 1.75–2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 1.75–2 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex emarginate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn flat 0.5 mm long. Upper glume oblong; 1.75–2 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein conspicuous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex emarginate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn flat 0.5 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 0.5–1 mm long; hyaline; keeled; 1(–3) -veined. Lemma lateral veins close to midvein. Lemma apex emarginate, or obtuse. Palea oblong; 2 -veined. Palea apex divided to base; 2 -fid.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 2; 0.6 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; obtuse.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Micraireae. Lazarides.

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