GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Neurachne tenuifolia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Butt sheaths villous. Culms erect, or decumbent; 30–50 cm long; 5–8 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface; outer margin glabrous. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.6–0.9 mm long. Collar glabrous. Leaf-blades curled; filiform; convolute; 8–25 cm long; 0.8–1.5 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade midrib indistinct. Leaf-blade surface papillose; rough adaxially; pubescent. Leaf-blade margins smooth.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear, or oblong; 4–6 cm long. Primary panicle branches accrescent to a central axis; with lateral stumps on axis. Panicle axis with rounded ribs; pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels oblong; 0.6–1 mm long; pubescent; tip discoid.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 6.5–12 mm long; falling entire. Spikelet callus bearded; base obtuse; attached transversely.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 6.5–12 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; cartilaginous; much thinner on margins; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume surface glabrous, or setose. Lower glume apex acuminate; muticous, or awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 2.5–3.5 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 6.5–12 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; cartilaginous; with membranous margins; 7 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 2.5–3.5 mm long.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret lanceolate, or elliptic; 4.8–6.1 mm long; 0.5–0.75 length of spikelet; chartaceous; 7 -veined; scabrous; rough on veins; glabrous, or puberulous; eciliate on margins; acute. Fertile lemma lanceolate; 4.8–6.5 mm long; hyaline; without keel. Lemma apex acute. Palea hyaline; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3.2–3.7 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Webster.

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