Lachnagrostis plebeia

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms slender; 20–30 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 0.5–1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle smooth.

Panicle contracted; linear; 4–12 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; 1–3 -nate. Panicle axis smooth. Panicle branches capillary; scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2–5 mm long; scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension, or with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 3–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma; shiny; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.7–5.5 mm long; 1.1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3–3.7 mm long; 1.1–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 3 mm long; hyaline; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma apex dentate; 4 -fid; with outer lobes longer; incised 0.5 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn dorsal; arising 0.1–0.2 way up back of lemma; geniculate; 6–8 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 0.75 length of lemma; hyaline.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Aveneae. Fl W Austral 1994.

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