Triodia longipalea

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 100–150 cm long. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades aciculate; conduplicate; 25–50 cm long; 2 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 40–50 cm long. Primary panicle branches simple. Panicle axis scaberulous. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 18–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 11–16 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; scarious; without keels; 5–9 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 11–16 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; without keels; 5–9 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 6–7 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3–15 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex lobed; 3 -fid; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 11–13 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.