Bromus catharticus* Vahl. Symb. Bot. 2: 22
(1791).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae.
Tribe Bromeae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: LT: P. Commerson s.n., no date, Peru: Lima
(US-865523). LT designated by Pinto-Escobar, Caldasia 11(54): 9–16 (1976); also
discussed in Bot. Jaherb. Syst. 102: 447 (1981); and Hitchcock, Amer. J.
Bot. 21: 127 (1934).
Recent synonyms:
B. unioloides, B. willdenowii.
Key references
(books and floras): [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (662 as Ceratochloa
unioloides), [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae
(104 as Ceratochloa cathartica), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass,
Grasses of Australia, [2002] J.Wheeler, N.Marchant & M.Lewington, Flora
of the South West (407), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses
of South Australia (256), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley &
D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales (174), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora
of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (90).
Illustrations:
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (103,
Pl.29 as Ceratochloa), [1984] N.T.Burbidge. rev. S.W.L.Jacobs, Australian
Grasses (81 as B. catharticus),
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (256, Fig. 197), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley
& D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn (174), [2009].
A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2 (84, Fig. 12).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect or geniculately ascending, 80–100 cm tall. Leaf-sheaths
hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 10–30 cm long, 3–8 mm wide.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle oblong, effuse, 10–40 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets (6–12), comprising 6–12 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at
the apex, ovate, laterally compressed, 16–40 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar. Lower glume lanceolate, chartaceous, keeled, 1-keeled, 5–9 -nerved.
Upper glume lanceolate, 11–17 mm long, chartaceous, keeled, 1-keeled, 9–13
-nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 12–20 mm long, keeled, 9–13 -nerved. Lemma apex lobed, awned, 1
-awned. Median (principal) awn subapical, 1–9 mm long overall. Lodicules
present. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia,
Pacific, North America, South America, and Antarctica.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South
Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, Norfolk I, Lord Howe.
Western Australia:
Drummond, Menzies, Warren, Avon. South Australia: Lake Eyre, Flinders
Ranges, Eastern, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula,
Southern Lofty, South-eastern. Queensland: Burnett, Darling Downs,
Leichhardt, Mitchell, Moreton, South Kennedy, Warrego, Wide Bay, Port Curtis. New
South Wales: North Coast, Central Coast, South Coast, Northern Tablelands,
Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, North-Western Slopes, Central-Western
Slopes, South-Western Slopes, North-Western Plains, South-Western Plains, North
Far Western Plains. Victoria: East Gippsland, Eastern Highlands,
Gippsland Highlands, Gippsland Plain, Grampians, Lowan Mallee, Midlands, Murray
Mallee, Otway Plain, Otway Range, Wilsons Promontory, Riverina, Volcanic Plain,
Wannon, Wimmera. Tasmania: Furneaux Group, North West, Midlands, East
Coast.
Notes.
Introduced. All states except the N.T., also Lord Howe Is. Native of S.
America. Widespread in disturbed areas. Flowers Oct.-Jan.
