2. E. Thomsoni, Petrie in Trans. N.Z. Inst. xii. (1880) 356, t. 10.—A small densely tufted species. Culms short, stout, much branched, spreading, quite glabrous, 1–5 in. high. Leaves numerous, distichous, spreading, ⅓—½ in. long, 112–18 broad, lanceolate, acute, strongly nerved; ligule reduced to a mere line; sheaths pale, strongly grooved. Inflorescence reduced to a short stout erect raceme of 2–5 spikelets, sometimes hardly longer than the leaves; pedicels short, stout, often appressed to the rhachis. Spikelets ⅙–⅕ in. long, compressed. Two outer glumes small, subequal, broadly oblong or rounded, obtuse, less than ⅓ as long as the 3rd and 4th respectively; 3rd and 4th ovate-lanceolate, rigid, keeled, awned, 5-nerved, silky at the base, keel and awns minutely scabrid. Flowering glume shorter, oblong, obtuse or subacute, 3–5-nerved. Palea linear. Stamens 1–2.
South Island: Nelson—Mount Rochfort, Dr. Gaze! Townson! Otago—Longwood Range, Kirk! Stewart Island—Port Pegasus, Thomson and Petrie! Kirk! Rakiahua, P. Goyen! Auckland Islands—F. R. Chapman! Sea-level to 4000 ft.
A very curious and distinct little species.
10. MICROLÆNA, R. Br.
Slender perennial grasses; culms simple or branched. Leaves flat or convolute when dry. Spikelets laterally compressed, 1-flowered, pedicellate, arranged in a narrow lax panicle; rhachilla disarticulating above the 2 outer glumes. Glumes 5; the 2 outer very small, persistent; 3rd and 4th long, narrow, produced into long awns, the 4th much the longest; 5th or flowering glume shorter, acute, not awned. Palea linear. Lodicules 2, rather large, thin. Stamens 4 or 2. Styles distinct; stigmas plumose. Grain enclosed within the flowering glume and palea but free from them.
A small genus of 5 species, confined to Australia and New Zealand. One of the New Zealand species is also found in Australia, the remaining two are endemic.
| * The two outer glumes distant from the 3rd and 4th. | |
| Leaves flat, thin, ⅛–⅕ in. broad. Panicle 3–9 in., narrow. Stamens 4 | 1. M. stipoides. |
| ** The 2 outer glumes not distant from the 3rd and 4th. | |
| Culms not branched. Leaves broad, ¼–½ in. Panicles 1–2 ft., compound. Stamens 2 | 2. M. avenacea. |
| Culms branched. Leaves 110–15 in. broad. Panicle reduced to a simple raceme 1–3 in. long, rarely branched at the base. Stamens 4 | 3. M. polynoda. |
1. M. stipoides, R. Br. Prodr. 210.—Rhizome creeping and rooting, branched. Culms numerous from the rhizome, often branched below, erect or ascending, slender, glabrous, 1–2 ft. high or more.
