Notochloe microdon

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 40–60 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades convolute; 15–30 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse. Panicle branches terete.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; curved.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 6–12 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 15–30 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 4–8 mm long; 0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 5–9 mm long; 0.5–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 6–9 mm long; keeled; 7 -veined. Lemma lateral veins ribbed. Lemma apex dentate; 3 -fid; incised 0.15 of lemma length. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels ciliolate. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Arundineae. WDC.

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