Schizachyrium mitchellianum

HABIT Annual. Culms 50–100 cm long. Lateral branches ample. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3 mm long. Leaf-blades 1.5–10 cm long; 0.8–3 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Synflorescence compound; linear. Inflorescence composed of racemes; terminal and axillary; subtended by a spatheole; embraced at base by subtending leaf. Spatheole linear; 1.8–3 cm long; glabrous. Peduncle 0.3–0.5 cm long.

Racemes 1; single; 1–1.5 cm long. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; semiterete; pilose on surface; ciliate on margins. Rhachis internodes clavate; 4 mm long. Rhachis internode tip crateriform; with scarious rim.

Spikelets appressed; in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Companion sterile spikelets pedicelled; 1 in the cluster. Pedicels clavate; 4 mm long; ciliate.

STERILE SPIKELETS Companion sterile spikelets rudimentary; comprising 2 unequal glumes without lemmas; linear; 2 mm long; shorter than fertile; deciduous with the fertile. Companion sterile spikelet glumes chartaceous; awned; one glume awned; with 10–30 mm long awn.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 4 mm long; 1 mm wide; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus 0.1 mm long; pubescent; base obtuse; inserted. Spikelet callus hairs 1 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; 2-keeled; keeled all along; keeled laterally; winged on keel; winged narrowly; winged all along. Lower glume intercarinal veins distinct. Lower glume surface convex; glabrous. Upper glume lanceolate; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret oblong; hyaline. Fertile lemma oblong; 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; 20 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn glabrous. Palea absent or minute.

FLOWER Anthers 1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Andropogoneae. Simon 1997.

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