Setaria austrocaledonica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; of moderate stature; 50–100 cm long; 2–3 mm diam. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Lateral branches ample. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades linear; flat; 25–30 cm long; 4–6 mm wide; herbaceous; firm.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; continuous, or interrupted; 6–20 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending; moderately spaced; 1–1.5 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base; sterile at the tips.

Spikelets subtended by an involucre. Fertile spikelets sessile; 1 in the cluster. Involucre composed of bristles; 6–8 mm long. Involucral bristles persistent; 1 per spikelet; flexible; antrorsely scaberulous; glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; acute; 3–4 mm long; falling entire. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 0.75 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 3–4 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface striate; unwrinkled. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute; indurate. Palea keels eciliate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Pacific: southwestern.

NOTES Paniceae. Morat 1996.

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