Triodia roscida

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 100–120 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; without keel; pilose. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate; 2–3 mm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades aciculate; conduplicate; stiff; resinous. Leaf-blade venation without layer of subepidermal sclerenchyma masking vein striation. Leaf-blade margins ciliate. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes borne along a central axis; appressed; unilateral; 4–7 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 15–25 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–4 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong, or cuneate; laterally compressed; 6–9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, or oblong; 4.5–7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume primary vein smooth, or scaberulous. Lower glume apex acute; mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate, or oblong; 4.5–7 mm long; 0.75–0.85 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume primary vein conspicuous. Upper glume apex acute; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 6–8 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma lateral veins in close groups (of 3). Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below. Lemma apex lobed; 3 -fid; with linear lobes; incised 0.25 of lemma length. Palea elliptic; 5–6 mm long. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged; 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.