Schizachyrium crinizonatum

HABIT Annual. Culms 20–40 cm long; 0.35–0.6 mm diam.; 6–9 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pubescent. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.3–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades conduplicate, or convolute; 2–2.5 cm long; 0.9–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary; subtended by a spatheole; embraced at base by subtending leaf. Spatheole linear; 3–4 cm long. Peduncle 0.25–0.4 cm long.

Racemes 1; single; 2–2.5 cm long; 0.45–0.55 mm wide; bearing 4–5 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; semiterete; villous on surface (in a line across internode). Rhachis hairs 3.5–6 mm long. Rhachis internodes clavate. Rhachis internode tip crateriform; with scarious rim.

Spikelets squeezed between internode and pedicel; in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels linear; ciliate; hairy in the middle (in a transverse line); with 3.5–6 mm long hairs.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets rudimentary; comprising 2 unequal glumes without lemmas; linear; 0.8–2 mm long; shorter than fertile; deciduous with the fertile. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; awned; one glume awned; with 9–23 mm long awn.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; acute; 4.5–6.7 mm long; 0.35–0.55 mm wide; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus curved; 0.7–1.3 mm long; pilose; base acute; with elliptic scar. Spikelet callus hairs 1.2 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; chartaceous; 2-keeled; keeled above; keeled frontally. Lower glume intercarinal veins obscure; 2 in number. Lower glume surface convex; asperulous. Lower glume apex dentate; 2 -fid. Upper glume lanceolate; membranous; 1-keeled; keeled above; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume margins ciliolate. Upper glume apex dentate; 3 -fid.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; 0.75 length of spikelet; hyaline. Fertile lemma oblong; 4–5 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; incised 0.9 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 16–23 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 5–8.5 mm long; glabrous. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Anthers 0.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; 2.5–3.4 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Blake 1994.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Spikelet callus furrowed.

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