Arthragrostis brassiana

HABIT Annual. Culms 30–70 cm long; 3–5 -noded. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.5–0.7 mm long. Leaf-blades 3–9 cm long; 2–4 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 8–35 cm long. Primary panicle branches 3–10 cm long; bearing 5–10 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle axis bearing deciduous branches.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels angular.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or ovate; dorsally compressed; 2–5.2 mm long; with hairs extending 0.6–1.5 mm beyond apex; falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated below proximal fertile floret. Rhachilla elongation slender.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, or ovate; 0.5 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute; muticous. Upper glume lanceolate, or ovate; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute; muticous.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; muticous. Fertile lemma elliptic; indurate; yellow, or light brown; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Simon 2011.

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