Triodia prona

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms decumbent; 100–130 cm long. Culm-internodes brown. Leaf-sheaths scaberulous; glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded; 2–2.5 mm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.3 mm long. Collar pubescent. Leaf-blade base with a brief petiole-like connection to sheath; petiole 0.3–0.6 cm long. Leaf-blades flexuous; filiform; conduplicate; 15–30 cm long; 0.6–0.7 mm wide; without exudate. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; loose; 20–30 cm long; 1–1.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 3–7.5 cm long. Panicle axis angular, or flat. Panicle branches angular, or flat.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels angular, or flattened; 2.5–6 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets cuneate; laterally compressed; 7–10 mm long; 2.5–4 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes compressed; 1.3 mm long. Floret callus 0.3 mm long; bearded.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 7–9 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 1–5 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–9 mm long; cartilaginous; with membranous margins; without keels; 1–5 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3.5–4 mm long; cartilaginous, or indurate; much thinner on margins; without keel; 3–9 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above; pilose; hairy below. Lemma margins scaberulous. Lemma apex lobed; 3 -fid; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn recurved at base of limb; 5–6 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 3.5–5 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea elliptic; 4 mm long; cartilaginous; of uniform consistency. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged. Palea surface scaberulous; pubescent; hairy below. Palea apex emarginate; scaberulous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.5 mm long; fleshy; emarginate. Anthers 3; 2.3 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Lazarides 1996.

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