Monodia stipoides

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 50–150 cm long; 3 mm diam.; 2(–3) -noded. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 2–3 mm long. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 30–60 cm long; 2 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 20–50 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 16–24 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 2 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 16–24 mm long; 1.1–1.3 length of upper glume; scarious; without keels; 9–11 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 14–18 mm long; 1.5–1.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; laterally compressed; 8–12 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea; ciliate. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.1 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; flexuous; 50–60 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined. Palea keels approximate. Rhachilla extension 0.1 length of fertile floret.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate. Anthers 3; 5–6 mm long. Stigmas 2.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. WDC.

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