Tragus australianus

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 20–40 cm long; 2–4 -noded. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades 2–5 cm long; 2.5–5 mm wide; stiff; glaucous. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; tuberculate-ciliate. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes numerous; borne along a central axis; closely spaced; in a multilateral false spike; spreading; oblong; 0.4–0.5 cm long; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 2 fertile spikelets on each. Central inflorescence axis 5–8 cm long; pubescent. Rhachis obsolete; deciduous from axis. Raceme-bases brief; 0.5 mm long.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets sessile; the upper smaller.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 5 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure, or two; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 0–0.5 mm long; 0–0.1 length of upper glume; hyaline; 0 -veined. Upper glume ovate; 4 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins thickened; ribbed. Upper glume surface with hooked spines; rough on veins; glabrous, or puberulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 4 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; cuneate; fleshy. Anthers 3; 0.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia. Pacific: southwestern. South America: western South America and southern South America.

NOTES Cynodonteae. Tothill 1992.

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