Zygochloa

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms geniculately ascending; 100–150 cm long; woody. Lateral branches suffrutescent. Ligule a fringe of hairs.

INFLORESCENCE Dioecious. Synflorescence compound; globose. Inflorescence comprising only a few spikelets; terminal and axillary; deciduous as a whole; subtended by a spatheole; enclosed. Spatheole expanded; ovate; scarious. Peduncle disarticulating.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile. Male spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 6–10 mm long; falling entire; deciduous with accessory branch structures.

GLUMES Glumes reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; chartaceous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Lower glume surface without pits. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; chartaceous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate; chartaceous; 5 -veined; acute. Fertile florets female. Fertile lemma ovate; indurate; wingless; 5 -veined. Lemma surface unwrinkled; without grooves. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea indurate.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid.

MALE Male inflorescence similar to female; a spathate compound head. Male spikelets similar to female but less developed; lanceolate. Male spikelet glumes 2.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia.

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