Eulalia mackinlayi (F. Muell. ex
Benth.) Kuntze. Rev. Gen. Pl. 2: 775 (1891).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Panicoideae. Andropogoneae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Pollinia
mackinlayi F. Muell. ex Benth., Fl. Austral. 7: 527 (1878).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia, Arnhem Land: Mackinlay .
Key references
(books and floras): [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (527 as Pollinia
mackinlayi), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia.
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect, 140–250 cm tall. Mid-culm nodes glabrous or pubescent.
Lateral branches simple or sparsely branched. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule a fringed
membrane, a ciliate membrane, 0.2–1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades involute, 15–35 cm
long, 1–6 mm wide.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence digitate, with ramose branches. Rhachis fragile at the nodes.
Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile and pedicelled, 2 in the cluster. Companion spikelets
developed. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, the lower floret barren (rarely male),
the upper fertile, comprising 1 basal sterile florets, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, linear or lanceolate or oblong, dorsally
compressed, 6–8 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
dissimilar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear or lanceolate or
oblong, coriaceous, keeled, 2-keeled, 4 -nerved. Lower glume surface
indumented. Upper glume lanceolate, keeled, 1-keeled, 1–3 -nerved. Upper glume
surface indumented. Upper glume apex muticous. Florets. Basal sterile
florets 1, barren, without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret 100
% of length of spikelet.
Fertile lemma 1 mm
long, without keel, 2 -nerved. Lemma apex entire or lobed, awned, 1 -awned.
Median (principal) awn apical, 20–27 mm long overall, with a twisted column.
Palea absent. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland.
Northern Territory:
Darwin & Gulf. Queensland: Cook.
Notes. Sandy
and rocky soils in tropical Australia north of 15 degrees S. Endemic. Flowers
Feb.--July.
