Triodia rigidissima

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes absent, or elongated. Culms erect; 20–30 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades aciculate; conduplicate; 2–5 cm long; 2 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 7–9 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches appressed; bearing 1–2 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle axis scaberulous. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 9–13 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 10 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; scarious; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 10 mm long; 2–3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 4–5 mm long; chartaceous; without keel. Lemma midvein pubescent. Lemma margins pubescent. Lemma apex lobed; 3 -fid; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 11–17 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; shorter than principal. Palea 4–4.5 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl W Austral 1994.

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