Triodia bromoides

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 60–130 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades aciculate; conduplicate; 30–60 cm long; 2 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 15–30 cm long. Panicle axis scaberulous. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus 2 mm long; bearded.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume linear; 10 mm long; 0.33–0.4 length of upper glume; scarious; without keels. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume linear; 25–30 mm long; 4–5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; without keels. Upper glume apex dentate; 3 -fid.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 6 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 8–15 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex lobed; 3 -fid; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 20–35 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; shorter than principal. Palea 2 -veined. Palea surface glabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped; 4–6 in number.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl W Austral 1994.

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