Chionochloa macra

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Butt sheaths dark brown; persistent and investing base of culm. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pilose. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths 10–15 cm long; without keel; puberulous; inner surface glabrous. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate; 2 mm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.6 mm long. Leaf-blades persistent; 30–60 cm long; 3–5 mm wide; herbaceous; firm. Leaf-blade midrib evident. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous; hairless except near base. Leaf-blade margins scabrous; ciliate; hairy at base. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; 12–25 cm long. Panicle branches bearded in axils; with prominent pulvini.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–7 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 14–16 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 1 mm long. Floret callus elongated; 1 mm long; bearded; disarticulating obliquely. Floret callus hairs 3 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate; 11–13 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 11–13 mm long; 1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 9–10 mm long; membranous; without keel; 7 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma surface glabrous, or pubescent. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with triangular lobes; with lobes 4–4.5 mm long; incised 0.5 of lemma length; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; flat below; 10–12 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 3.5 mm long. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 3 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 7.5 mm long. Palea keels ciliolate. Palea surface pilose; hairy on flanks. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 1 mm long; membranous; veined; ciliate. Anthers 4 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 3.25 mm long. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: New Zealand.

NOTES Arundineae. Connor.

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