Tripogon oliganthos

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms erect; 30 cm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades involute; 5–8 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; flexuous; unilateral; 15 cm long. Rhachis flattened. Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; regular; 2 -rowed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5.2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.3 mm long; 0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4.1 mm long; 1.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 2.9 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins excurrent. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; straight; 1.4 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns 0.5 mm long. Palea 2 -veined. Palea keels winged; narrowly winged.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Arabia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Cope 1994.

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