Triodia intermedia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 40–60 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths without keel; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded; 3–4 mm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades aciculate; conduplicate; 8–20 cm long; stiff; glandular. Leaf-blade venation without layer of subepidermal sclerenchyma masking vein striation. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 8–10 cm long. Panicle axis scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–10 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or cuneate; laterally compressed; 8–10 mm long; 4–6 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; dull, or shiny. Lower glume lanceolate, or oblong; 4–6 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; scarious; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute; mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate, or oblong; 4–6 mm long; 1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 3–5 mm long; coriaceous; purple; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent; hairy below. Lemma lateral veins in close groups (of 3). Lemma surface pilose; hairy at base. Lemma margins pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex dentate; 3 -fid; incised 0.1 of lemma length; acute. Palea 1 length of lemma. Palea keels winged; conspicuously winged. Palea apex obtuse. 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.