Anisopogon avenaceus

Anisopogon avenaceus R.Br. Prodr. 176
(1810).

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

Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information
: HT: R. Brown 6223, no date, Australia: New
South Wales (BM; IT: US-3168441 (fragm. ex BM)).

Key references
(books and floras):
[1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus (176), [1878]
G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (598 as A. strictus var. avenaceus),
[2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia, [2006]
J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (123),
[2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2
(14).

Illustrations:
[1984] N.T.Burbidge. rev. S.W.L.Jacobs, Australian Grasses  (55), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley &
D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn (123), [2009].
A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2 (69, Fig 10).

Derivation: L. -acea,
resembling. With inflorescences and/or spikelets similar to those of Avena.

Habit.
Perennial. Culms 50–100 cm tall. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule a fringed
membrane, a ciliolate membrane, 1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades involute, 10–30 cm
long, 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous, glabrous.

Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle oblong, effuse, 15–25 cm long.

Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), with a barren rachilla extension, linear, laterally compressed,
40–50 mm long.

Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, herbaceous,
without keels, 7–11 -nerved. Lower glume apex muticous. Upper glume lanceolate,
40–60 mm long, herbaceous, without keels, 7–11 -nerved. Upper glume apex
muticous.

Florets.
Fertile lemma 12–18 mm long, without keel, 7 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented.
Lemma apex lobed, awned, 3 -awned. Median (principal) awn from a sinus, 60–80
mm long overall, with a twisted column. Lateral lemma awns present. Palea 2
-nerved. Palea apex dentate. Lodicules present. Grain 7 mm long.

Continental
Distribution
: Australasia.

Australian
Distribution
: New South Wales, Victoria.

New South Wales:
Central Coast, South Coast, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands. Victoria:
East Gippsland, Gippsland Plain.

Notes.
East Coast, from the Blue Mountains to Gippsland, altitude 5–900 m, common in
open woodlands and heath on sandstones. Flowers Nov. (rarely at other times).

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