Chionochloa nivifera

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 15–35 cm long. Culm-internodes elliptical in section; distally glabrous. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths 6–10 cm long; keeled; outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate; 0.5–1 mm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.25 mm long. Leaf-blades persistent; conduplicate; 15–30 cm long; 3–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib keeled beneath. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous; glabrous, or ciliate; hairy at base. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 11–20 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; loose; 6–10 cm long. Primary panicle branches drooping.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 3–5 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 8–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.5–0.75 mm long; glabrous. Floret callus evident; 0.6–1 mm long; bearded. Floret callus hairs 2–3 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate; 2–5 mm long; 0.4–0.75 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 5–7 mm long; 1.1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; (3–)4–6 mm long; membranous; without keel. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with triangular lobes; with lobes 2–3.5 mm long; incised 0.5 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned, or 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; reflexed (inward); 4 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 0.5–1.5 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 3.5–5.5 mm long. Palea keels ciliolate; adorned above. Palea surface pilose; hairy on flanks; hairy below. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 1 mm long; membranous; ciliate. Anthers 3; 2–5 mm long; purple.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 2–2.5 mm long. Embryo 0.33 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear; 0.5 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: New Zealand.

NOTES Arundineae. Connor 2006.

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