Micraira inserta

HABIT Perennial; mat forming. Culms prostrate; 1 cm long; 0.5–0.8 mm diam. Culm-internodes 0.5–0.8 cm long; estriate. Leaves cauline; spiral. Leaf-sheaths 0.2–0.3 cm long; longer than adjacent culm internode; as wide as blade at the collar. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.3–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule; 0.5–0.6 cm long; 0.3–0.5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade venation with 3 subepidermal sclerenchyma strands. Leaf-blade surface papillose; rough adaxially; glabrous. Leaf-blade margins cartilaginous; scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; shorter than basal leaves; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath; enclosed. Peduncle 0.1 cm long; eglandular.

Panicle spiciform; oblong; 0.3–0.4 cm long; 0.1 cm wide; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 1 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong, or ovate; 1 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex truncate. Upper glume oblong, or ovate; 1 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 1(–3) -veined. Upper glume primary vein conspicuous. Upper glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex truncate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong, or ovate; 0.5 mm long; hyaline; keeled; 1 -veined. Lemma midvein thickened. Lemma apex erose; truncate. Palea oblong; hyaline; 2 -veined. Palea apex divided to base; 2 -fid.

FLOWER Lodicules absent. Anthers 2; 0.8 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Micraireae. Lazarides.

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