Aristida muricata Henrard. Meded.
Rijks. Herb. Leiden
58A: 286 (1932).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Aristidoideae. Aristideae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: LT: W.D. Brown 63, Jun 1913, Australia: New South Wales, Golun (L-932.55–106 (photo,
BRI); IT: BRI (fragm.), K, NSW). LT designated by Henrard, Meded. Rijks-Herb.
54(C): 729 (1933).
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 (130).
Illustrations:
[1983] J.C.Tothill & J.B.Hacker, Grasses of Southern Queensland
(106(39)), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales, 4th edn (130).
Derivation: L.
rough. Glumes bear short hard points.
Habit.
Perennial. Culms 50–90 cm tall. Mid-culm internodes glabrous. Lateral branches
sparsely branched or branched. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a
fringe of hairs, 1 mm long. Leaf-blades straight, flat or conduplicate or
involute or convolute, 9–19 cm long, 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle linear, 17–30 cm long, 1–8 cm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate, terete, 8–12 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous,
keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, 8–12 mm long, membranous,
keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume surface smooth to scabrous. Upper
glume apex entire or erose.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 7.5–8.5 mm long, without keel, 3 -nerved. Lemma apex awned, 3
-awned. Median (principal) awn without a column. Lateral lemma awns present.
Palea without keels. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Queensland, New South Wales.
Queensland:
Cook, Darling Downs, Leichhardt, Maranoa,
Mitchell, Moreton, North Kennedy, South Kennedy, Gregory South. New South Wales:
North-Western Slopes, Central-Western Slopes, North-Western Plains.
Notes.
A. muricata differs from all other species by the muricate and involute
lemmmas and perennial habit.
Central
inland Queensland to central inland New South Wales with records also from north and far
inland Queensland.
Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla), Eucalyptus communities on sandy,
loamy and alluvial soils. Flowering and fruiting December to July.
