Lepturus minutus

HABIT Annual. Culms decumbent; 5–20 cm long. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Collar glabrous. Leaf-blades 0.3–2 cm long; 1–2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 0.8–3.5 cm long. 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 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; acuminate; 2.5–3 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures. Spikelet callus base truncate; attached transversely.

GLUMES Glumes one the lower absent or obscure; reaching apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Upper glume lanceolate; 2–2.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous; glabrous. Upper glume apex attenuate; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 1–2 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 2–2.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex erose; acute. Palea keels eciliate. Rhachilla extension 0.3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Leptureae. Fl Australia 2006.

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