Triodia lanata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 50–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths 2–3 cm long; without keel; woolly. Leaf-sheath oral hairs woolly. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades aciculate; conduplicate; 5–12 cm long; 2 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade venation without layer of subepidermal sclerenchyma masking vein striation. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 8–10 cm long. Panicle axis scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 5–10 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate, or ovate; laterally compressed; 8–13 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 7–10 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; scarious; light brown, or purple; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or distinct. Lower glume surface pubescent, or pilose. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–10 mm long; 1.1–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; light brown, or purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent, or pilose. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 6–8 mm long; membranous, or scarious; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma lateral veins in close groups (of 3). Lemma surface pilose; hairy below. Lemma hairs 1–2 mm long. Lemma apex emarginate; mucronate. Palea elliptic, or oblong; 5–6.5 mm long. Palea keels wingless; ciliolate. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back; hairy below. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Burbidge 1993.

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