Lachnagrostis punicea

HABIT Perennial; short-lived; caespitose. Culms erect; 35–65 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Culm-internodes antrorsely scabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths smooth, or scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–8 mm long; entire, or lacerate; obtuse. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; 20–35 cm long; 1(–2) mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; deciduous as a whole. Peduncle retrorsely scabrous above; fracturing.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 20–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2–5 -nate; whorled at lower nodes.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels clavate; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets laterally compressed; 4.5–7.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 4.5–7.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate; muticous, or mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4.5–7.5 mm long; 1.3–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate; muticous, or mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 3–5.5 mm long; hyaline; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma lateral veins excurrent. Lemma surface smooth, or asperulous; glabrous, or pilose. Lemma apex dentate; 4 -fid; truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.25 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 6–12.5 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 0.8 length of lemma; hyaline. Palea apex dentate; 2 -fid; with excurrent keel veins. Rhachilla extension 0.8–2.5 mm long; pilose.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl Australia 2010.

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