Enneapogon pallidus (R.Br.) Beauv. Ess.
Agrost. 82, 162, 171 (1812).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Chloridoideae. Pappophoreae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Pappophorum
pallidum R. Br., Prodr. 185 (1812).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: R. Brown, Australia.
Key references
(books and floras): [1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus (185 as Pappophorum
pallidum), [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae
(32), [1969] E.E.Henty, Manual Grasses New Guinea (88), [1981]
M.Lazarides in J.Jessop (ed)., Flora of Central Australia (454), [2002]
D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia.
Habit.
Perennial. Culms 30–88 cm tall. Lateral branches branched. Ligule a fringe of
hairs. Leaf-blades flat or involute, 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface
indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a panicle. Panicle linear or pyramidal, (3–)5–8(–13) cm
long, 1–2.5(–4) cm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1 or more flowered, with 1 fertile
floret (1(-2)), comprising 1(–2) fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at
the apex, oblong, laterally compressed, 3–6.3 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, membranous, without
keels, (5–)7–9(–11) -nerved. Lower glume surface indumented. Lower glume apex
muticous or mucronate. Upper glume ovate, 3–6.3 mm long, membranous, without
keels, (5–)7–9(–11) -nerved. Upper glume surface scabrous, indumented. Upper
glume apex entire or erose, muticous or mucronate.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 1.6–3.4 mm long, without keel, 9 -nerved. Lemma surface
indumented. Lemma apex dentate or lobed, awned, 9 -awned. Median (principal)
awn 3–6(–9.5) mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns present. Lodicules present.
Anthers 3. Grain 1.1–2 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Tropical Asia and Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland.
Western Australia:
Gardner. Canning, Fortescue, Carnarvon. Northern Territory: Darwin &
Gulf, Victoria River, Barkly Tableland, Central Australia North, Central
Australia South. Queensland: Burke, Burnett, Cook, Leichhardt, Maranoa,
Mitchell, North Kennedy, Port Curtis, South Kennedy, Warrego.
Notes.
A widely misapplied species, E. pallidus is monsoonal in distribution
and resembles E. purpurascens, but differs by its larger lemma, entirely
pubescent palea and blunt (not pointed) glumes.
N of
lat. 20° in W.A., N.T. and Qld on mainland and coastal islands; also in Papua
New Guinea.
