Trisetum antarcticum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms slender; 15–60 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; truncate. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 1–2 mm wide; flaccid. Leaf-blade surface smooth. Leaf-blade margins smooth, or scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; dense; 3–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 5–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny; gaping. Lower glume elliptic; 0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner on margins; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 0.75–0.85 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with hyaline margins; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 5–5.5 mm long; membranous; much thinner on margins; shiny; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.75–0.9 way up back of lemma; curved; 4–6 mm long overall. Palea gaping; hyaline.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: New Zealand.

NOTES Aveneae. Cheeseman 1995.

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