Triodia microstachya

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 60–100 cm long. Leaf-sheaths resinous; medianly thickened; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades aciculate; conduplicate; stiff; resinous. Leaf-blade venation with continuous uniform subepidermal sclerenchyma layer on the underside (except median line). Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; 30–50 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches 4–8 cm long. Panicle axis scabrous. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 3–3.5 mm long; 1.2 length of upper glume; scarious; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 2.5–3 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent, or distinct. Upper glume surface smooth. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2.5–3 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex dentate; 3 -fid; with simple equal lobes; with triangular lobes; acute. Palea keels ciliolate. 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.