Trisetum lepidum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 12–65(–100) cm long. Leaf-sheaths 3–6 cm long; glabrous on surface to pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.2–0.6 mm long; erose. Leaf-blades flat; 3–16 cm long; 0.5–2(–6) mm wide; dark green. Leaf-blade surface puberulous; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins smooth, or scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 3–20(–28) cm long; 1–10 cm wide. Panicle axis scabrous (above). Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4.5–9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes pilose; with 0.5–1.3 mm long hairs. Floret callus pubescent. Floret callus hairs 0.2–0.5 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny; gaping. Lower glume elliptic; 0.5 length of upper glume; hyaline; light green; 1-keeled. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume ovate; hyaline; light green; 1-keeled. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 4.5–7 mm long; membranous; shiny; keeled; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous, or papillose. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.75 way up back of lemma; straight, or curved; 5–9 mm long overall. Palea gaping; hyaline. Palea keels scaberulous.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 1.3 mm long; glabrous, or ciliate. Anthers 3; 0.8–1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 2–3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: New Zealand.

NOTES Aveneae. Edgar 2000.

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