Yakirra nulla

HABIT Annual, or perennial; short-lived. Culms erect, or decumbent; 50–60(–100) cm long; 4–6 -noded. Culm-internodes terete, or elliptical in section; distally glabrous, or hirsute. Leaf-sheaths as wide as blade at the collar, or narrower than blade at the collar; hirsute. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5–1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 5–8(–17) cm long; 5–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 8–23 cm long; 4–12 cm wide; contracted about primary branches. Primary panicle branches 5–16 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–4.5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 3.8–5 mm long; falling entire; readily shedding fertile florets. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes. Floret callus evident; 0.6–1 mm long; without wings; truncate.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1.5–2.5 mm long; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile lemma elliptic, or oblong; 2.5–3.8 mm long; indurate; shiny; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute; indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.7 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; 1.7 mm long. Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Lazarides.

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