Chloris pumilio R. Br. Prodr. 186 (1810).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Chloridoideae. Cynodonteae.
Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: LT: Brown 6245, Australia: Northern Territory: North Coast (BM; IT: E, K). LT designated by Anderson, Brigham Young Univ. Sci. Bull., Biol. Ser. 19(2): 82 (1974).
Recent synonyms: C. ruderalis.
Key references (books and floras): [1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus (196), [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (611), [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (as C. ruderalis), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia.
Illustrations: [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (221, Pl.65 as C.ruderalis), [2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of Australia 44B: Poaceae 3 (Fig. 42C, Fig. 44C).
Habit. Annual. Culms erect or decumbent, 22–90 cm tall. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringed membrane, a ciliate membrane, 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades 7–12 cm long, 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous.
Inflorescence. Inflorescence digitate, with spicate branches.
Spikelets. Spikelets sessile or pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1 or more flowered, with 1 fertile floret (1–3), comprising 1–3 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the apex, cuneate, laterally compressed, 3.7–6 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, 2.5–5.4 mm long, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume apex mucronate.
Florets. Fertile lemma 3.5–6 mm long, keeled, 3 -nerved. Lemma apex lobed, awned, 1 -awned or 3 -awned. Median (principal) awn from a sinus, 9–25 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns present. Lodicules present. Anthers 3. Grain 1.2–3.3 mm long.
Continental Distribution: Australasia.
Australian Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland.
Western Australia: Gardner, Dampier. Canning, Fortescue, Ashburton, Carnarvon. Irwin. Northern Territory: Darwin & Gulf. Queensland: Burke, Cook, Gregory North, Mitchell, North Kennedy, South Kennedy.
Notes. Native; chiefly N of 21°S (c. Mackay) in Qld and the N.T., down to 25°S (c. Carnarvon) in W.A., with at least one recorded occurrence, possibly naturalized, further S; mostly near-coastal regions and offshore islands; Also in Indonesia. Known from sandy and silty soils in moist low-lying and near coastal areas, and also growing on podsolic, reddish brown and grey brown soils, or dark grey loam, in disturbed areas such as cleared eucalypt forest and railway enclosures.
