Amphipogon debilis

HABIT Perennial. Culms geniculately ascending, or decumbent; 10–20 cm long; 3–5 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 1–12 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough abaxially. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle pubescent above.

Panicle capitate; oblong; 1–2 cm long. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with evident branchlets on axis.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 7–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus brief; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 4.5 mm long; 1.3 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume margins ciliolate. Lower glume apex dentate; 3 -fid. Upper glume ovate; 3.5 mm long; 0.3–0.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; with hyaline margins; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume margins ciliolate. Upper glume apex dentate; 3 -fid.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 7–10 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins obscure. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex lobed; 3 -fid; incised 0.6–0.7 of lemma length; setaceously attenuate. Palea linear; 0.9 length of lemma; cartilaginous; 2 -veined. Palea keels scaberulous. Palea apex lobed; 2 -fid; acuminate; awned.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with free soft pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Arundineae. Vickery.

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