Brachyachne ciliaris (Kuntze) C. E.
Hubbard. Bull. Misc. Inform. 448 (1934).
Classification.
(GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Chloridoideae. Cynodonteae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Cynodon
ciliaris Benth. Fl. Austral. 7: 610 (1878); Capriola ciliaris
Kuntze, Revis. Gen. Pl. 2: 764 (1891).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Central Australia: Charlotte Waters, Giles s.n..
Key references
(books and floras): [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (610 as Cynodon
ciliaris), [1981] M.Lazarides in J.Jessop (ed)., Flora of Central
Australia (466), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South
Australia (343), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales (170).
Illustrations:
[2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of Australia 44B: Poaceae 3 (Fig.
50B-E), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South
Australia (342, Fig. 274), [2008]
S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales,
4th edn (170).
Habit. Annual.
Culms geniculately ascending or decumbent, 5–25 cm tall. Leaf-sheaths hairy.
Ligule a fringed membrane, a ciliolate membrane or a ciliate membrane, 0.6–1 mm
long. Leaf-blades 1–3 cm long, 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence digitate, with spicate branches.
Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate or oblong, laterally
compressed, 3–4 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong, coriaceous, without
keels, 1 -nerved. Upper glume oblong, 3–4 mm long, coriaceous, keeled,
1-keeled, 1 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 2–2.6 mm long, keeled, 3 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented. Lemma
apex mucronate. Palea 2 -nerved. Grain 1–1.5 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland, New South
Wales.
Northern Territory:
Central Australia North, Central Australia South. South Australia: Lake
Eyre, Gairdner-Torrens Basin. Queensland: Burke, Gregory North, Gregory
South, Warrego. New South Wales: North Far Western Plains, South Far
Western Plains.
Notes.
Distinguished by villous leaves, high colour, relatively long ligule,
inflorescence of usually 2 stiff spikes, firm dissimilar glumes, subapically
bearded floret, acute callus, and scarcely compressed grain. The spikes
resemble those of B. convergens, but this species has glumes with acute
winged keels, a strongly compressed grain, and usually glabrous foliage. Also,
the nerves of the lemma and keels of the palea, though ciliate or pubescent,
lack a subapical tuft.
Endemic;
occurs in the arid and low rainfall areas of inland Australia from Alice
Springs E across the L. Eyre basin between 20°S and 31°S, and within 300 km of
the Qld coast around the Tropic of Capricorn; Usually on sandy, gravelly or
stony slopes or plains, including gibber plains.