Triodia scariosa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 30–80 cm long. Culm-internodes terete. Leaves distichous. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; without exudate; without keel; striately veined. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades aciculate; conduplicate; 8–20 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff; resinous. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 12–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 4–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets linear, or lanceolate; laterally compressed; 9–16 mm long; 3–6 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pubescent; hairy at tip. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; scarious; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 5–8 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 5–8 mm long; scarious; without keel; 9 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate; hairy below. Lemma lateral veins in close groups (of 3). Lemma surface pilose; hairy below. Lemma margins ciliate; hairy above and below. Lemma apex erose, or dentate; 2 -fid; acute; muticous, or mucronate. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface villous; hairy on back (below). Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy. Anthers 3; 2.75–3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Burbidge.

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