Koeleria riguorum

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; slender; 25–36 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous to hirsute. Leaf-sheaths ribbed; puberulous. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.6–1.1 mm long; truncate, or acute. Leaf-blades filiform, or linear; flat, or conduplicate, or involute; 3.2–17 cm long; 0.3–1.2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; grooved adaxially; puberulous; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; interrupted; 2–7 cm long; 0.3–1 cm wide. Panicle axis pubescent. Panicle branches pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 2–3 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets laterally compressed; 3.6–6.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes 0.8–1.2 mm long; pubescent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; similar to fertile lemma in texture; shiny; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate, or elliptic; 3.4–4.1 mm long; 0.9–1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or distinct. Lower glume apex entire, or erose; obtuse, or acute. Upper glume lanceolate, or elliptic; 4–4.2 mm long; 0.9–1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; 1-keeled; 3–5(–7) -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume apex entire, or erose; obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 4–4.6 mm long; membranous; shiny; keeled. Lemma surface smooth, or asperulous; rough above. Lemma apex entire, or dentate; 2 -fid; muticous, or mucronate, or awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; 0–2 mm long overall. Palea gaping; 4–4.2 mm long; 1 length of lemma. Palea keels scabrous; adorned above; with 0.66 of their length adorned. Rhachilla extension 1–1.5 mm long; pilose.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.5–1.2 mm long; membranous. Anthers 3; 0.5–1.7 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: New Zealand.

NOTES Aveneae. Edgar & Gibb 2000.

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