Ancistrachne uncinulata (R.Br.)S.T.Blake. Univ.
Qld Pap. Dept. Biol. 1(19): 5 (1941).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Panicoideae. Paniceae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Panicum
uncinulatum R. Br., Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae 191. 1810.
Key references
(books and floras): [1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus (191 as Panicum
uncinulatum), [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (482 as Panicum
uncinulatum), [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 (121).
Illustrations:
[1983] J.C.Tothill & J.B.Hacker, Grasses of Southern Queensland
(96), [1984] N.T.Burbidge. rev. S.W.L.Jacobs, Australian Grasses (51), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley &
D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn (121).
Derivation: L.
uncinulus, small hook; -ata, possessing. With hooked hairs on the
glumes and sterile lemma.
Habit.
Perennial. Culms 30–200 cm tall, wiry. Ligule a fringe of hairs, 0.4–0.6 mm
long. Leaf-blades recurved, 1–17 cm long, 1–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface
indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle of rames. Panicle oblong or pyramidal, 2–14
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, elliptic, dorsally
compressed, 3.7–5.1 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
dissimilar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, chartaceous, without
keels, 3–5 -nerved. Upper glume ovate, 3.7–5.1 mm long, chartaceous, without
keels, 9–11 -nerved. Upper glume surface indumented. Florets. Basal
sterile florets 1, barren, with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret 100 % of
length of spikelet, coriaceous, 7–9 -nerved.
Fertile lemma 2.9–4 mm
long, without keel, 5–7 -nerved.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia and Pacific.
Australian
Distribution: Queensland, New South Wales.
Queensland:
Burnett, Cook, Darling Downs, Leichhardt, Maranoa, Mitchell, Moreton, North
Kennedy, Port Curtis, South Kennedy, Warrego, Wide Bay. New South Wales:
North Coast, North-Western Slopes, Central-Western Slopes, North-Western
Plains.
Notes.
Interesting features of this species include the highly branched culm, reflexed
leaves and oblique orientation of the spikelets. Spikelet length distinguishes
it from the other Australian species.
In tropical and
subtropical wet sclerophyll forests, Brigalow forests, tropical and subtropical
sub-humid woodlands, and semi-arid shrub woodlands. Widespread in tropical Australia.
Flowers throughout the year, mostly Dec.-June.
