GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Thyridolepis xerophila

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths thickened and forming a bulb; woolly. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 15–60 cm long; 5–9 -noded. Culm-internodes distally pubescent. Culm-nodes pubescent. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.3–0.6 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 1.5–9 cm long; 1–4 mm wide; stiff.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear, or oblong; continuous; 1.5–4 cm long. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with lateral stumps on axis. Panicle axis angular; pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; 0.3–0.8 mm long; pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 3.9–5.3 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus pilose. Spikelet callus hairs 0.8 mm long; 0.15–0.2 length of spikelet. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong, or ovate; 3.9–5.3 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; cartilaginous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Lower glume surface with a longitudinal median groove; fenestrate; glabrous; with a dorsal tuft of hair. Lower glume apex truncate, or obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.4–4.9 mm long; 0.9 length of spikelet; chartaceous, or cartilaginous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pubescent. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex entire, or dentate; 3 -fid; truncate, or obtuse.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate, or elliptic; 2.7–3.5 mm long; 0.6–0.7 length of spikelet; membranous, or chartaceous; 5 -veined; pubescent; obtuse. Fertile lemma lanceolate, or elliptic; 2.9–4 mm long; membranous; without keel. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea 2 -veined.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5–2.3 mm long. Stigmas 2.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Webster.

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