Ottochloa gracillima

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Culms rambling; slender; 5–20 cm long; rooting from lower nodes. Culm-internodes 2–3.5 cm long; distally glabrous, or with pubescent line. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or hispid; with tubercle-based hairs; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades linear, or lanceolate; 2–3.5 cm long; 4–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 2–4; borne along a central axis; unilateral; 0.5–2 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 3 cm long. Rhachis angular. Spikelet packing abaxial.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; 1.75–2 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; 1.75–2 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface granulose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; coriaceous; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Tothill.

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