Yakirra australiensis

HABIT Annual, or perennial. Culms erect; 5–30 cm long; 5–10 -noded. Lateral branches ample. Ligule a fringe of hairs; 0.5–2 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 3–10 cm long; 1–4 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; terminal and axillary; shorter than basal leaves; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle open, or contracted; elliptic; 2–5 cm long. Primary panicle branches 0.5–2 cm long; bearing 2–5 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–6 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 basal sterile florets; 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or oblong; dorsally compressed; 3.2–4.5 mm long; 1–1.4 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, or shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic, or ovate; 1.6–2.8 mm long; 0.5–0.6 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume elliptic, or oblong; 3–4.3 mm long; 0.95–1 length of spikelet; membranous; without keels; 7 -veined. Upper glume apex 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; acuminate. Fertile lemma elliptic, or ovate; 2.3–2.8 mm long; indurate; without keel. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex obtuse, or acute. Palea involute; 1 length of lemma; indurate. Palea apex obtuse.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1–1.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Paniceae. Webster.

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