Cynodon nlemfuensis* Vanderyst. Bull.
Agric. Congo
Belge 13: 342 (1922).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Chloridoideae. Cynodonteae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: ST: Vanderyst 6095, Zaire (BR).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia,
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia
(350).
Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (350, fig. 282).
Habit. Perennial. Rhizomes absent. Stolons present. Culms erect or
geniculately ascending, 20–83 cm tall, 1–3 mm diam., firm. Ligule a fringed
membrane, a ciliolate membrane, 0.1–0.3 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, 5–16 cm long,
2–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous, glabrous or indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence digitate, with spicate branches. Racemes straight or flexuous.
Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, ovate, laterally compressed, 1.8–3 mm
long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, herbaceous,
keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate or elliptic or oblong or
ovate, 1.2–2 mm long, herbaceous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 2–3 mm long, keeled, wingless, 3 -nerved. Palea 2 -nerved.
Continental
Distribution: Africa, Australasia, Pacific, North America, and South America.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia,
Queensland.
Western
Australia: Gardner.
Northern Territory: Central
Australia South. South
Australia: Northern Lofty, Southern Lofty,
South-eastern. Queensland: Burnett,
Cook, Darling Downs, Moreton, North Kennedy, Port Curtis, Wide Bay,
Burke, Maranoa.
Notes.
Endemic to eastern and central Africa
introduced as a fodder grass elsewhere.
Infra-specific taxa: var. nlemfuensis, var. robustus .
Culms 1–1.5 mm in diameter; leaf blades 2–5 mm wide C. nlemfuensis var. nlemfuensis
Culms 2–3 mm in diameter; leaf blades 5–6 mm wide C. nlemfuensis var. robustus
