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.

Enneapogon virens

HABIT Perennial. Culms 10–60 cm long; wiry; 6 -noded. Lateral branches sparse. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Collar pilose. Leaf-blades involute; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle antrorsely scabrous above.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 4.5–10 cm long; 1 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets oblong; laterally compressed; 4–8.2 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 4–7.4 mm long; 0.9–1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 9–11 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent, or pilose; with simple hairs and capitate hairs. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acuminate; muticous, or mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.9–8.2 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent, or pilose; with simple hairs and capitate hairs. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblate; 2–3.8 mm long; cartilaginous, or coriaceous; without keel; 9–11 -veined. Lemma lateral veins without ribs. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy all along; inner surface transversely fringed. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex dentate; 9 -fid; awned; 9 -awned. Principal lemma awn 4.8–9 mm long overall; limb ciliate (lower 0.75–0.85 of length). Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; subequal to principal; ciliate. Palea membranous. Palea keels ciliolate, or ciliate; adorned all along. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back and on flanks. Apical sterile florets 3 in number; barren; in a clump. Apical sterile lemmas awned; 9 -awned. Apical sterile lemma awns ciliate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid, or oblong; plano-convex, or concavo-convex; 1.3–1.9 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Pappophoreae. Kakudidi.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Lemma hairs less than base of awns.

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