Triodia dielsii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 100–150 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades aciculate; conduplicate; 15–30 cm long; 2 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous; hairless throughout, or except near base. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; 25–30 cm long. Panicle axis scaberulous. Panicle branches capillary; scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels flexuous; scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 10–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume elliptic; 6–8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 5–9 -veined. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume elliptic; 6–8 mm long; 1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; chartaceous; without keels; 5–9 -veined. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 5–6 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3–11 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma apex lobed; 3 -fid; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 8–10 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; shorter than principal. Palea 6–9 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea surface glabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy. Anthers 3; 3.5–6 mm long.

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.