Triodia marginata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 100–150 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths resinous; medianly thickened; glabrous on surface. 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 margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 8–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches bearing 3–6 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle axis scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–11 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate, or ovate; laterally compressed; 10–16 mm long; 6–7 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 4.5–7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; scarious; without keels; 3(–5) -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 4.5–7 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; without keels; 3(–5) -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 4.5–7 mm long; coriaceous; much thinner on margins; pallid; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma lateral veins in close groups (of 3). Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex lobed; 3 -fid; incised 0.25 of lemma length; acute. Palea reflexed at apex; 1 length of lemma. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged; ciliolate. Palea apex pubescent. 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.