Triodia procera

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 150–200 cm long. Leaves distichous. Leaf-sheaths inflated (1–2cm wide); 4–7 cm long; keeled; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades ascending; linear; flat, or involute; 35–70 cm long; 4–6 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; 40–100 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches 9–18 cm long. Panicle axis scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–6 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; 3–4 mm long; 1 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; 3–4 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3.5 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 3 -veined, or 9 -veined. Lemma lateral veins close to margins. Lemma margins pubescent. Lemma apex dentate; 3 -fid; acute. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged. 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.