Triodia danthonioides

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 100–175 cm long. Culm-internodes distally woolly. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths woolly; outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades reflexed; aciculate; conduplicate; 25–50 cm long; 2 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface woolly; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; 20–60 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending. Panicle axis scaberulous. Panicle branches capillary; scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 5–6 fertile florets; with diminished florets at the apex. Spikelets elliptic; laterally compressed; 9–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet. Lower glume lanceolate; 13 mm long; 0.8 length of upper glume; scarious; without keels. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 16 mm long; 2–3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; scarious; without keels. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 8–9 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 8–15 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy in lines. Lemma apex lobed; 3 -fid; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 15 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns arising on apex of lobes; 10 mm long; shorter than principal. Palea 6–9 mm long; 2 -veined. Palea surface glabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; fleshy. Anthers 3; 3.5–6 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Eragrostideae. Fl W Austral 1994.

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