Zoysia pauciflora

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 4–10 cm long. Culm-internodes 2–5 cm long. Leaf-sheaths 1–3 cm long; glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.2–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; flat, or conduplicate; 3–7 cm long; 0.8–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes, or comprising only a few spikelets; comprising 3–5 fertile spikelets. Peduncle 2–5 cm long.

Racemes 1; single; linear; multilateral; 0.7–1.2 cm long; bearing few fertile spikelets; bearing 3–5 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis scabrous on surface.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 0.5–1 mm long; scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 4 mm long; falling entire.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; shiny. Upper glume ovate; 1 length of spikelet; coriaceous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins obscure. Upper glume surface puberulous; hairy above. Upper glume margins ciliolate. Upper glume apex acute; muticous, or mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 0–5 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or ovate; 3.5 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 1 -veined. Palea without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: New Zealand.

NOTES Cynodonteae. Zotov 1993.

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