Vulpia myuros*

Vulpia myuros* (L.) C.C.Gmel. Fl. Bad. 1: 8 (1805).

Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Poeae.

Basionym and/or Replacement Name:  Festuca myuros L., Sp. Pl. 1: 74–75 (1753).

Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: LT: Herb. A. van Royen, (L-912.556–218). LT designated by Stace & Jarvis, Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 91: 436 (1985).

Key references (books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (91), [1981] M.Lazarides in J.Jessop (ed)., Flora of Central Australia (431), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia, [2002] J.Wheeler, N.Marchant & M.Lewington, Flora of the South West (439), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (173), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales (399), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (294 & var. myurus, var. megalura), [1992] J.R.Wheeler et al, Flora of the Kimberley Region (292, Fig.39 as f. myurus, f. megalura).

Illustrations: [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (90, Pl. 25), [1984] N.T.Burbidge. rev. S.W.L.Jacobs, Australian Grasses  (273), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia  (174, fig. 124 as forma megalura & 175, fig. 125 as forma myuros), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn (399), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2 (292, Fig 39).

Habit. Annual. Culms erect or decumbent, 5–70 cm tall, 2–3 -noded. Leaf-sheaths smooth, glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 0.3–1 mm long. Leaf-blades flat or involute, 2–17 cm long, 0.4–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface indumented.

Inflorescence. Inflorescence compound, a panicle of racemes. Panicle linear, 5–39 cm long.

Spikelets. Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile florets (3–10), comprising 3–10 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the apex, oblong or cuneate, laterally compressed, 7–13 mm long.

Glumes. Glumes similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear to lanceolate, membranous, without keels or keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, 2.6–8 mm long, membranous, without keels or keeled, 1–3 -nerved. Upper glume apex muticous or awned.

Florets. Fertile lemma 4.7–8.5 mm long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Lemma surface glabrous or indumented. Lemma apex awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn 5–19.6 mm long overall. Palea 2 -nerved. Palea apex divided to base. Anthers 1–2.

Continental Distribution: Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia, Pacific, North America, South America, and Antarctica.

Australian Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, Norfolk I.

Western Australia: Drummond. South Australia: Lake Eyre, Gairdner-Torrens Basin, Flinders Ranges, Eastern, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South-eastern. Queensland: Darling Downs, Leichhardt, Moreton, Wide Bay. New South Wales: North Coast, Central Coast, South Coast, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, North-Western Slopes, Central-Western Slopes, South-Western Slopes, North-Western Plains, South-Western Plains. Victoria: East Gippsland, Eastern Highlands, Gippsland Highlands, Gippsland Plain, Grampians, Lowan Mallee, Midlands, Murray Mallee, Otway Plain, Otway Range, Wilsons Promontory, Riverina, Snowfields, Volcanic Plain, Wannon, Wimmera. Tasmania: Furneaux Group, North East, Central Highlands, Midlands, Ben Lomond, East Coast.

Notes. Introduced. Native to Europe, introduced to New Zealand, Africa, North and South America. Usually in dry often rocky or sandy habitats. Flowers (May-)July-Dec. Fruits July-Mar.

Infra -specific taxa: f. myuros, f. megalura.

Lemmas with glabrous margins or occasionally ciliolate at the apex                        V. myuros f. myuros         

Lower lemma with glabrous margins, the distal lemmas ciliate on the upper half of the margin            V. myuros f. megalura

 

AVH 2011

  

 

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