Sacciolepis indica (L.) Chase. Proc.
Biol. Soc. Wash. 21: 8 (1908).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Panicoideae. Paniceae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Aira indica
L., Sp. Pl. 1: 63, 1231, in errata after index (1753).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: NT: Davidse 7871, 22 Oct 1974, Sri Lanka:
Sabaraganamuwa Province: Ratnagsura District (K; INT: MO, US). NT designated by
Renvoize in Cafferty et al., Taxon 49(2): 244 (2000).
Key references
(books and floras): [1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus (189 as Panicum
phleoides), [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (480 as Panicum
indicum, Panicum arcuatum), [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western
Australia 1 Gramineae (264), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass,
Grasses of Australia, [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley &
D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales (364).
Illustrations:
[1984] N.T.Burbidge. rev. S.W.L.Jacobs, Australian Grasses (233), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley
& D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn (364).
Habit. Annual.
Culms geniculately ascending or decumbent, stature slender to delicate, 10–100
cm tall. Leaf-sheath auricles absent, or present. Ligule a fringed membrane, a
ciliolate membrane, 0.2–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 2–25 cm long, 1–7 mm wide.
Leaf-blade surface scaberulous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a panicle. Panicle linear or oblong, 1–13 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, the lower floret barren
(rarely male), the upper fertile, comprising 1 basal sterile florets,
comprising 1 fertile floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate or
ovate, laterally compressed, 2–3.5 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, hyaline, without keels, 3–7
-nerved. Upper glume elliptic, 2.2–3.5 mm long, membranous, without keels, 5–9
-nerved. Upper glume surface glabrous or indumented. Florets. Basal
sterile florets 1, male or barren, with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret
100 % of length of spikelet, membranous, 5–7 -nerved.
Fertile lemma 1–2 mm
long, without keel, 5 -nerved.
Continental
Distribution: Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia, Pacific,
and South America.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland, New South
Wales.
Western Australia:
Gardner, Fitzgerald, Hall, Dampier. Northern Territory: Darwin &
Gulf. Queensland: Burke, Cook, Darling Downs, Moreton, North Kennedy,
South Kennedy, Wide Bay. New South Wales: North Coast, Central Coast,
South Coast, Northern Tablelands.
Notes. Highly variable
in size, spikelet length and pubescence. Spikelet length and smooth pedicels
can be used to quickly distinguish S. indica from S. myosuroides..
In tropical and
subtropical rain forests, tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands, and
coastal grasslands. Widely distributed. Flowers sporadically throughout the
year.
