Simplicia laxa

HABIT Perennial. Butt sheaths pubescent. Culms decumbent; 25–50 cm long; 5–6 -noded. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–5 mm long; erose; obtuse. Leaf-blades 6–12 cm long; 1.5–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; pyramidal; 2–6 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading, or drooping; 2 -nate.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 2.5–3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 0.7 mm long; 0.7 length of upper glume; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 1 mm long; 0.3–0.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2.5–3 mm long; chartaceous; keeled; 3 -veined. Lemma surface smooth; pubescent. Lemma apex acute; mucronate. Palea elliptic; 1 length of lemma; 1–2 -veined; 1-keeled. Palea surface smooth; pubescent. Palea apex obtuse. Rhachilla extension 0.25 length of fertile floret.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; ovate; 0.7 mm long; membranous; with a small lateral lobe. Anthers 2; 1 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ovoid; laterally compressed; 1.5 mm long. Hilum punctiform.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: New Zealand.

NOTES Aveneae. Zotov.

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