Yakirra muelleri

HABIT Annual. Culms erect; 8–30 cm long; 4–8 -noded. Culm-nodes pubescent. Lateral branches ample. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.4–1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 2–12 cm long; 1–5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle open; ovate; 1–8 cm long. Primary panicle branches 1–5 cm long; bearing 1–6 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2–12 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate, or oblanceolate, or elliptic; dorsally compressed; 4.7–5.5 mm long; 1.4–1.7 mm wide; falling entire; readily shedding fertile florets. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes. Floret callus evident; winged; with free apical wings; truncate.

GLUMES Glumes dissimilar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1.5–3.1 mm long; 0.33–0.66 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate, or elliptic; 4.7–5.5 mm long; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Basal sterile florets barren; without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume; elliptic, or oblong; 1 length of spikelet; membranous; 7 -veined; acute, or acuminate. Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.9–3.4 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse. Palea involute; 1 length of lemma; indurate. Palea apex obtuse.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Webster.

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