Micraira spiciforma

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Culms prostrate; 2–5 cm long; 0.5 mm diam.; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-internodes 0.5 cm long; estriate. Leaves cauline; spiral. Leaf-sheaths 0.2–0.3 cm long; as wide as blade at the collar; glabrous on surface. Ligule absent. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; 0.4–0.5 cm long; 0.4–0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 3–5 subepidermal sclerenchyma strands. Leaf-blade surface pilose, or hirsute; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; scabrous; tuberculate-ciliate. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 5–7 fertile spikelets. Peduncle glandular.

Panicle open; oblong; 0.3–0.4 cm long; 0.1 cm wide; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 1 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 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex emarginate, or obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 1 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex emarginate, or obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 0.5 mm long; hyaline; keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lemma apex emarginate, or obtuse. Palea oblong; hyaline; 2 -veined. Palea keels smooth. Palea apex divided to base; 2 -fid.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 2; 0.5–0.6 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 0.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Micraireae. Lazarides.

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