Aristida inaequiglumis Domin. Biblioth.
Bot. 85: 347 (1915).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Aristidoideae. Aristideae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: T: K. Domin s.n., Mar 1910, Australia:
Queensland: North Kennedy Dist.: Savannenwälder bei Pentland (PR; IT: BR, L
(photo, BRI)).
Key references
(books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (169), [1981] M.Lazarides in J.Jessop (ed)., Flora of
Central Australia (450), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass,
Grasses of Australia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses
of South Australia (324).
Illustrations:
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (167,
Pl. 49), [1983] J.C.Tothill & J.B.Hacker, Grasses of Southern Queensland
(106(33)), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South
Australia (324, Fig. 256).
Derivation: L. inaequalis,
unequal; gluma, husk. Glumes differing in length and/or shape.
Habit.
Perennial. Culms 32–155 cm tall, 1 -noded. Mid-culm internodes glabrous.
Lateral branches sparsely branched. Leaf-sheaths smooth or scaberulous,
glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs, 1 mm long. Leaf-blades curled,
flat or conduplicate or involute or convolute, 15–30 cm long, 2.3–4.5 mm wide.
Leaf-blade surface scabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle lanceolate, 13–40 cm long, 1.5–4 cm
wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate, terete, 9–18.5 mm long.
Glumes.
Glumes similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous,
keeled, 1-keeled, 1(–3) -nerved. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex
mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate, 6.4–13 mm long, membranous, keeled,
1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex entire or
erose, mucronate.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 3.7–9 mm long, without keel, 3 -nerved. Lemma apex awned, 3
-awned. Median (principal) awn pseudo-articulate at base, without a column.
Lateral lemma awns present. Palea without keels. Anthers 3. Grain 3.1–7 mm
long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia,
Queensland.
Western Australia:
Fitzgerald, Hall, Dampier. Mueller, Canning, Giles, Helms, Fortescue, Austin. Northern
Territory: Victoria River, Central Australia North, Central Australia
South. South Australia: North-western, Lake Eyre. Queensland:
Burke, Cook, Gregory North, Mitchell, North Kennedy, South Kennedy, Warrego,
Gregory South.
Notes.
A. inaequiglumis is closely allied to A. pruinosa in having
inverse glumes which differ in length by more than 3 mm long. It differs from
this species by being less robust and less pruinose, having a distinct
pseudoarticulation and leaf blades which curl up at maturity. The lemma groove
is almost always tuberculate, although there are a few records of specimens
with smooth lemma grooves. It is recorded from more arid sites than A.
pruinosa. It differs from A. ingrata by the glumes differing in
length by more than 3 mm.
Occurs mainly over
most of the northern Australia with a few outlying records from Western
Australia, South Australia and Queensland. Acacia, Callitris, Eucalyptus
and Astrebla communities on redearths, sands and alluvial soils.
Flowering and fruiting all year.
