Agropyron brownei

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 15–35 cm long. Culm-internodes distally pubescent; with reflexed hairs. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Leaf-sheath auricles falcate; 1.5 mm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long; entire, or erose; truncate. Leaf-blades 3–7 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hirsute; hairy on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence composed of racemes.

Racemes 1; single; bilateral; 1.5–6 cm long; bearing few fertile spikelets, or many spikelets; bearing 4–10 fertile spikelets on each. Rhachis pubescent on surface (antrorsely). Spikelet packing broadside to rhachis; distant. Rhachis internodes oblong.

Spikelets deflexed; solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–9 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 10–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus 0.5 mm long; disarticulating obliquely.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture; shiny; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 6–7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; coriaceous; 1-keeled. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 5–7 mm long; 0.66–0.75 length of adjacent fertile lemma; coriaceous; 1-keeled. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 8–11 mm long; coriaceous; keeled; 5–7 -veined. Lemma surface asperulous. Lemma apex acuminate. Palea 4–6.5 mm long. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia and New Zealand.

NOTES Triticeae. Connor 2000.

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