Enneapogon gracilis

Enneapogon gracilis (R.Br.) Beauv. Ess.
Agrost.
82, 161, 171 (1812).

Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Chloridoideae. Pappophoreae.

Basionym and/or
Replacement Name:
 Pappophorum
gracile
R. Br., Prodr. 185 (1812).

Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information
: HT: R. Brown 6252, Australia: Queensland:
Broad Sound (BM).

Key references
(books and floras):
[1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus (185 as Pappophorum
gracile
), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia,
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales
(240).

Illustrations:
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales
, 4th edn (240).

Habit. Annual
or perennial. Culms 12.5–70 cm tall. Lateral branches branched. Ligule a fringe
of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform, convolute, 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface
glabrous or indumented.

Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a panicle. Panicle linear, (1.5–)3–4(–10) cm long, 0.8–1.5
cm wide.

Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1 or more flowered, with 1 fertile
floret, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the apex,
oblong, laterally compressed, 4.6–8.8 mm long.

Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, membranous, without
keels, 9–15 -nerved. Lower glume surface indumented. Upper glume ovate, 4.6–8.8
mm long, membranous, without keels, 7–11 -nerved. Upper glume surface
indumented.

Florets.
Fertile lemma 1.6–2.2 mm long, without keel, 9–11 -nerved. Lemma surface
indumented. Lemma apex dentate or lobed, awned, 9 -awned. Median (principal)
awn (2–)3–9 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns present. Palea apex awned.
Lodicules present. Anthers 3. Grain 1–1.8 mm long.

Continental
Distribution
: Australasia.

Australian
Distribution
: Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria.

Queensland:
Burke, Burnett, Darling Downs, Leichhardt, Maranoa, Mitchell, Moreton, North
Kennedy, South Kennedy, Cook. New South Wales: Central Tablelands,
Southern Tablelands, North-Western Slopes, Central-Western Slopes,
North-Western Plains. Victoria: East Gippsland.

Notes.
The indurated sparsely hairy weakly nerved, wider than long, knuckled lemma
with much longer lobes is the most distinguishing character. Also, the panicle
is usually loose and relatively short. The basal palea varies considerably from
partly or entirely glabrous or pubescent.

Distributed
in eastern parts of Qld, N.S.W and Vic. Grows mostly on clays and clay loams,
in scrub or Eucalyptus open forest, occasionally on lighter soils and in
open places with other grasses.

 

AVH 2011


                                        

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith