Enneapogon robustissimus

Enneapogon robustissimus (Domin) N. T.
Burbidge. Proc. Linn. Soc. London 153: 78 (1941).

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

Basionym and/or
Replacement Name:
 Pappophorum
nigricans
var. robustissimum Domin, Biblioth. Bot. 20:
381(1915).

Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information
: Queensland: on the Flinders River at Hughenden, Jan
1910, Domin s.n. (HT: PR).

Recent synonyms:
E. clelandii.

Key references
(books and floras):
[1981] M.Lazarides in J.Jessop (ed)., Flora of
Central Australia
(454 as E. clelandii), [2002] D.Sharp &
B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia, [2005] K.Mallet (ed.),
Flora of Australia
44B: Poaceae 3, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst,
F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (337).

Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia  (337, fig. 270).

Habit.
Perennial. Culms 31–107 cm tall, 7 -noded. Lateral branches simple or sparsely
branched. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface or hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs.
Leaf-blades flat or involute, 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous
(tetrorsely).

Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a panicle. Panicle linear or lanceolate or ovate or
pyramidal, 1.5–4(–11) cm long, 1–2.5 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, 3–5.6 mm long.

Glumes.
Glumes similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, membranous,
without keels, 3–9 -nerved. Lower glume surface glabrous or indumented. Lower
glume apex mucronate. Upper glume ovate, 3–5.6 mm long, membranous, without
keels, 3–9 -nerved. Upper glume surface asperulous or scabrous, glabrous or
indumented. Upper glume apex erose, muticous or mucronate.

Florets.
Fertile lemma 2–2.6(–3.5) mm long, without keel, 9–11 -nerved. Lemma surface
indumented. Lemma apex dentate or lobed, awned, 9 -awned. Median (principal)
awn 2.3–6 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns present. Palea apex muticous or
awned. Lodicules present. Anthers 3. Grain 1.3–1.6 mm long.

Continental
Distribution
: Australasia.

Australian
Distribution
: Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia,
Queensland.

Western Australia:
Canning. Northern Territory: Barkly Tableland. South Australia:
North-western. Queensland: Cook, Burke, North Kennedy, South Kennedy,
Port Curtis, Leichhardt, Burnett, Gregory North, Mitchell.

Notes.
E. robustissimus and E. clelandii differ only in dimensions,
indumentum and in panicle shape, but intergradation is common in these
features.

 Pappophorum nigricans var. compacta
Ewart & Davies, Fl. N. Territory (1917) probably belongs to E.
clelandii
(=E. robustissimus), but type material has not been seen.

Widespread
in W.A., N.T. and Qld, rare in NW S.A. Fruits May.


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