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Pseudoraphis minuta (Mez) Pilg.

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, 30–35 cm tall, 3–6-noded, rooting from lower nodes. Mid-culm nodes pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades floating, 2.5–4 cm long, 3–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

Inflorescence
Racemes numerous, closely spaced, spreading, 2–3 cm long, bearing 5–10 fertile spikelets on each. Central inflorescence axis 4.5–5 cm long. Rhachis angular, scabrous on margins, terminating in a barren extension, extension bristle-like, extension 3–5 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, 3.5–4 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, 7–9-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, 2–2.5 mm long, 50–66% of length of spikelet, membranous, 7–9-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


Images
Illustrations available:
Australian distribution



Australian Distribution
© ABRS


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