Micraira brevis

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Culms prostrate; 3–15 cm long. Culm-internodes 0.3–1 cm long. Lateral branches ample. Leaves spiral. Leaf-sheaths 0.1–0.25 cm long; longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.1–0.2 mm long. Leaf-blades 0.35–0.6 cm long; 0.3–0.5 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade venation with 2 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface smooth; pilose; moderately hairy, or densely hairy. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 7–10 fertile spikelets; subtended by an unspecialized leaf-sheath and bracts (a whorl of leaves, and a bract 3mm long); embraced at base by subtending leaf. Peduncle brief, the infloresence subsessile.

Panicle capitate; oblong; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–5 mm long; 1.5–1.8 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 1.3–1.9 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure, or distinct. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume margins ciliate. Lower glume apex emarginate. Upper glume oblong; 1.3–1.9 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent, or obscure, or distinct. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex emarginate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 0.6–0.8 mm long; hyaline; 1–3 -veined. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea hyaline; 0 -veined.

FLOWER Lodicules absent.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Micraireae. Fl Australia 2006.

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