Triodia cunninghamii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 100–130 cm long. Leaf-sheaths resinous; medianly thickened. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades aciculate; conduplicate; stiff. Leaf-blade venation with continuous uniform subepidermal sclerenchyma layer on the underside (except median line). Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; 15–30 cm long; contracted about primary branches.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 5.5 mm long; 1.2 length of upper glume; scarious; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume elliptic; 4.5 mm long; 1.5–1.8 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2.5–3 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma lateral veins in close groups (of 3). Lemma apex lobed; 3 -fid; with simple equal lobes; with linear lobes; incised 0.5 of lemma length; acute. Palea 0.5 length of lemma. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Burbidge 1993.

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