Whiteochloa semitonsa

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms 30–60 cm long; 3–6 -noded. Culm-internodes smooth, or scaberulous. Culm-nodes glabrous, or pubescent. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or hispid, or hirsute; with tubercle-based hairs; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or conduplicate; 6–11(–23) cm long; 3–4(–4.5) mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially, or on both sides; glabrous, or hirsute. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 7–12; borne along a central axis; unilateral; (2–)3–5(–8.5) cm long; secondarily branched; secondary branches racemulose. Central inflorescence axis 8–14 cm long. Rhachis angular.

Spikelets in pairs. Fertile spikelets pedicelled; 2 in the cluster. Pedicels unequal; 0.5–2(–3.5) mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; compressed slightly; acute; 2.5–3(–3.75) mm long; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated below proximal fertile floret (0.1mm). Rhachilla elongation slender.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblate; 1–1.5 mm long; 0.33 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume primary vein tuberculate; ciliate. Lower glume surface smooth, or tuberculate; glabrous, or hispid; hairy on veins; with tubercle-based hairs. Lower glume margins eciliate, or ciliate. Lower glume apex acute; muticous, or mucronate. Upper glume oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface smooth, or tuberculate; rough on veins; glabrous, or hispid; hairy on veins; with tubercle-based hairs. Upper glume margins ciliolate. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets male, or barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; ovate; 1 length of spikelet; scarious; 5 -veined; sulcate; glabrous, or hispid; acuminate. Palea of lower sterile floret 1 length of lemma; winged on keels. Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 1.75–2.5 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma surface rugulose. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex apiculate. Palea indurate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 1.5–1.75 mm long; dark brown.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Lazarides.

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