Mibora

Mibora* Fam. Pl. 2: 495 (1763).

Derivation:. From Greek micros (small) and bora (food), alluding to this grass providing little fodder as food.

Key references (keys and floras):. C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae 145 (1952); B.K.Simon, Key to Australian Grasses 130 (1993); D.Sharp and B.K.Simon, AusGrass (2002).

W.D.Clayton & S.A.Renvoize, Genera Graminum (1986), genus (211).

Naturalised. 2 species, from the Mediterranean region. 1 species in Australia, WA.

Habit. Diminutive annual, tufted. Leaf blades narrow. Ligule an unfringed membrane.

Inflorescence. Inflorescence a single raceme (unilateral, spikelike).

Spikelets. Spikelets laterally compressed, solitary, shortly pedicelled; with rachilla terminating in a floret. Fertile spikelets laterally compressed, disarticulating above glumes.

Glumes. Glumes more or less equal, exceeding florets, long relative to adjacent lemmas, obtuse (to emarginate), awnless, non-keeled, similar (thinly membranous). Lower glume 1 nerved. Upper glume 1 nerved.

Florets. Fertile florets 1. Lemmas less firm than glumes (hyaline), entire at apex to incised (truncate-denticulate), muticous, 5 nerved, not keeled. Palea relatively long, 2 nerved, not keeled. Callus very short. Lodicules 2. Stamens 3. Stigmas 2. Grain small. Hilum short. Embryo small. Endosperm liquid, or hard.

Kranz Anatomy. C3.

2n = 14, 2 ploid, commonly adventive.

Habitat. Mesophytic. Damp, sandy soils. Species of open habitats.

Classification. Pooideae; Poeae.

Types Species. M. minima (L.) E.Desv.

Biogeographic Element. Clifford & Simon 1981, Simon & Jacobs 1990: Naturalised.

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith