Plinthanthesis rodwayi

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms decumbent; 30–40 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades curled; filiform; involute, or convolute; 10–20 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 4–8 cm long; 4–6 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 2–5 cm long. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 4–10 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension, or with a barren rhachilla extension (when 2-fld). Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4.5–6.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1.3 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 4.5–6.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 4.5–6.5 mm long; 1.5–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3–4 mm long; chartaceous; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below; hairy between veins. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; muticous, or mucronate. Palea oblong; 1 length of lemma; chartaceous; thinner above; 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back and on flanks. Palea apex emarginate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy; glabrous. Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear; 0.5 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Arundineae. WDC.

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