Triodia pungens

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 40–70 cm long. Leaf-sheaths resinous; medianly thickened. 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 apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 15–30 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Panicle branches with prominent pulvini.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 8–9 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 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; scarious; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume oblong; 3 mm long; 0.4–0.6 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 5–8 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma midvein eciliate, or ciliolate; hairy below. Lemma lateral veins in close groups (of 3). Lemma surface puberulous; hairy at base. Lemma margins eciliate, or ciliolate; hairy below. Lemma apex lobed; 3 -fid; incised 0.25–0.5 of lemma length; acute. Palea 0.5–0.75 length of lemma. 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.