Whiteochloa cymbiformis

HABIT Annual. Culms 100–200 cm long; without nodal roots, or with prop roots. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–30 cm long; 4–6 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or elliptic; 40–70 cm long; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches 3–15 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; 3–3.5 mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated below proximal fertile floret. Rhachilla elongation slender; 0.2 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 mm long; 0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume oblong; 2.7–3.2 mm long; 0.9–1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; keel-less except near apex; 7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; oblong; 3 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; scarious; 5–7 -veined; sulcate; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Gardner 1993.

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