Aristidasci uroides Domin. Biblioth.
Bot. 85: 347 (1915).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Aristidoideae. Aristideae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: LT: K. Domin s.n., Mar 1910, Australia:
Queensland: Mitchell Dist.: Barcaldine (L; ILT: BRI). LT designated by Simon, Austr.
Syst. Bot. 5: 178 (1992). ST: Domin s.n., Mar 1910, Australia:
Queensland: Mitchell Dist.: Jericho (PR).
Recent synonyms:
Aristida borealis B.K.Simon.
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia.
Illustrations:
[1983] J.C.Tothill & J.B.Hacker, Grasses of Southern Queensland
(106(36)), [2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of Australia 44B: Poaceae 3
(Fig. 20N-O).
Derivation: Gk.
skiouros, squirrel; -oides, resembling. Inflorescence resembles a
squirrel's tail.
Habit.
Perennial. Culms stature robust to moderate, 70–200 cm tall, 3–6 -noded.
Mid-culm internodes glabrous. Lateral branches sparsely branched or branched.
Leaf-sheaths smooth, glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs, 0.2–0.5 mm
long. Leaf-blades curled or flexuous, flat or conduplicate or involute or
convolute, 10–21 cm long, 2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous, glabrous
or indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle linear, 16–60 cm long, 1–4 cm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate, terete, 10.5–17 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous,
keeled, 1-keeled, 3–5 -nerved. Lower glume apex awned. Upper glume lanceolate,
10.5–17 mm long, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume apex
entire or erose, muticous.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 8.5–13 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. Grain 7.5–9 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Queensland.
Queensland:
Burke, Cook, Darling Downs, Maranoa, Mitchell, North Kennedy, South Kennedy,
Warrego, Leichhardt.
Notes.
A. sciuroides differs from A. ingrata by having larger spikelets,
by a lack of a lemma pseudoarticulation and by the leaf blades not curling up
at maturity.
Three
main areas of inland tropical and subtropical Queensland and two other records
from the Gulf region of Queensland. Eucalyptus communities on redearths,
sands and sandstone habitats. Flowering and fruiting November to September.
