Pseudoraphis minuta (Mez) Pilg.
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Derivation
Pseudoraphis Griff., Not. Pl. Asiat. 3: 29 (1851); from Greek
pseudo (false) and genus Raphis.
minuta- Latin for very small. Smaller than usual in some respect.
Published in
Notizbl. Bot. Gart. Berlin-Dahlem 10: 210 (1928).
Habit
Perennial, mat forming. Stolons present. Culms prostrate, 3035 cm tall,
36-noded, rooting from lower nodes. Mid-culm nodes pubescent. Ligule an
eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades floating, 2.54 cm long, 34 mm wide.
Leaf-blade apex acuminate.
Inflorescence
Racemes numerous, closely spaced, spreading, 23 cm long, bearing 510
fertile spikelets on each. Central inflorescence axis 4.55 cm long. Rhachis
angular, scabrous on margins, terminating in a barren extension, extension bristle-like,
extension 35 mm long. Spikelet packing abaxial.
Spikelets
Spikelets appressed, solitary. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret, lower floret male, upper fertile, without rhachilla extension, lanceolate,
dorsally compressed, 3.54 mm long, falling entire.
Glumes
Glumes dissimilar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblate, 10% of
length of spikelet, hyaline, 0-nerved. Lower glume surface glabrous or hairy,
hairy below, with tubercle-based hairs. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume
elliptic, 1% of length of spikelet, membranous, 79-nerved. Upper glume
surface glabrous or hairy, hairy below, with tubercle-based hairs. Upper glume
apex cuspidate.
Florets
Basal sterile floret 1, with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret elliptic,
22.5 mm long, 5066% of length of spikelet, membranous, 79-nerved,
glabrous or hairy, with tubercle-based hairs, acute. Fertile lemma oblong, 1.2
mm long, chartaceous. Lemma margins flat. Lemma apex acute. Palea 100% of
length of lemma, chartaceous, without keels. Anthers 3. Grain with adherent
pericarp, ellipsoid, grooved.
Continental Distribution:
Tropical Asia, Australasia.
Australian Distribution:
Northern Territory: Darwin & Gulf.
Classification. (GPWG
2001):
Panicoideae: Paniceae