Austroderia richardii* (Endl.) N.P.
Barker & H.P. Linder. Ann. Mo. Bot. Gard..
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Danthonioideae. Tribe
Danthonieae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Arundo
richardii Endl., Ann. Wiener Mus. Naturgesch. 1: 158 (1836).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: Herb. Richard 29, New Zealand: Havre de
l'Astrolabe (P; IT: CHR-236584 (fragm. ex P)).
Recent synonyms:
Cortaderia richardii (Endl.) Zotov, New Zealand J.Bot. 1:84
(1963).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia.
Illustrations:
[2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of Australia 44B: Poaceae 3 (Fig.3,
H).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms stature robust to moderate, 200–300 cm tall. Mid-culm
internodes hollow. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 60–100 cm long, 5–20
mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle lanceolate, dense, 30–60 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets, comprising 1–7 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the apex,
cuneate, laterally compressed, 18–35 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, similar to fertile lemma in texture, shiny. Lower glume linear,
hyaline, without keels, 1 -nerved. Upper glume linear, 20–35 mm long, hyaline,
without keels, 1 -nerved. Florets. Fertile florets female.
Fertile lemma 6–15 mm
long, without keel, 3 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented. Lemma apex lobed,
awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn from a sinus, 8–12 mm long overall.
Palea 2 -nerved. Lodicules present. Anthers 3. Grain 2.5 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Tasmania.
Tasmania: West
Coast, Central Highlands.
Notes.
Tasmania, introduced from New Zealand, along sandy stream banks. Flowers Jan.
to Feb.
