Aira provincialis* Jord. ex
Duval-Jouve. Bull. Soc. Bot. Fr. 12: 84 (1865). Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Poeae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: S. France,.
Key references
(books and floras): [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 (113), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia,
Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (262).
Illustrations:
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales, 4th edn (113).
Derivation:
from the Latin provincia (province) and -alis (pertaining to).
Relating to a province, in particular to Provencia, now Provence, France.
Habit. Annual.
Culms erect or geniculately ascending, stature slender to delicate, 10–50 cm
tall. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 2–11 mm long, acute. Leaf-blades filiform,
flat or convolute, 2–4 cm long, 0.3–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous
or scabrous, glabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle obovate, effuse, 4–22 cm long, 2–5
cm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, both fertile, comprising 2
fertile floret(s), without rachilla extension, oblong, laterally compressed,
3.5 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma, shiny. Lower glume ovate, membranous,
keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume ovate, 3.5 mm long, membranous,
keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 2.5 mm long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Lemma apex dentate, awned,
1 -awned. Median (principal) awn dorsal, 2.5 mm long overall, with a twisted
column. Lodicules present. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Europe and Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: New South Wales.
New South Wales:
Central Tablelands.
Notes. Introduced. In the
Blue Mtns, N.S.W. Native of Europe. Naturalised in parkland and disturbed
woodland. Flowers spring-summer.
