Lepturus copeanus

HABIT Annual. Culms 30–40 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Collar glabrous. Leaf-blades 3.5–6 cm long; 4–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral. Rhachis fragile at the nodes; subcylindrical and excavated; glabrous on surface; glabrous on margins. Spikelet packing adaxial; regular; 2 -rowed. Rhachis internodes oblong. Rhachis internode tip transverse; flat.

Spikelets sunken; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1(–2) fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 7–8 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus base truncate; attached transversely.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Upper glume lanceolate; 5–6 mm long; 1.6–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth, or scabrous; glabrous. Upper glume apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 2–5 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.7–3.7 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins more or less parallel. Lemma surface puberulous; hairy above. Lemma apex entire, or erose; acute. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above. Rhachilla extension 1.2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Leptureae. Fl Australia 2006.

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