Glyceria australis

Glyceria australis C. E. Hubbard. Bull.
Misc. Inf. Kew
1934: 450 (1934).

Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae.
Tribe Meliceae.

Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information
: Australia,
Port Jackson: Brown 6296 (K holo).

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
(176), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales
(270), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia,
Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (73).

Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia  (177, fig. 126 & plate 5), [2008]
S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales,
4th edn (270), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2
(75, Fig 11).

Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present. Culms decumbent, 30–150(–200) cm tall, 4–6 -noded.
Lateral branches simple or branched. Leaf-sheaths smooth, glabrous on surface.
Ligule an eciliate membrane, 3–8.5 mm long, truncate or obtuse or acute.
Leaf-blades 9–20 cm long, 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous or indumented.

Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle lanceolate, 1.5–3 cm long.

Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets (5–14(-20)), comprising 5–14(–20) fertile floret(s), with diminished
florets at the apex, linear or oblong, laterally compressed, 20–38 mm long.

Glumes. Glumes
similar. Lower glume lanceolate or ovate, membranous, without keels or keeled,
1 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate or ovate, (5–)5.5–8.1 mm long, membranous,
without keels or keeled, 1 -nerved.

Florets.
Fertile lemma (6–)7.9–10(–11) mm long, without keel, 7 -nerved. Lemma apex
entire. Palea 2 -nerved. Palea apex dentate. Lodicules present. Grain 3.5 mm
long.

Continental
Distribution
: Australasia.

Australian
Distribution
: Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales,
Victoria, Tasmania.

Western
Australia
: Drummond, Dale, Menzies, Warren. South
Australia
: Murray, Southern
Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South-eastern. New
South Wales
: Central Coast, South
Coast, Northern
Tablelands, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, North-Western Slopes,
Central-Western Slopes, South-Western Slopes, North-Western Plains. Victoria:
East Gippsland, Eastern Highlands, Gippsland Highlands, Gippsland Plain,
Grampians, Midlands, Otway Plain, Otway Range, Wilsons Promontory, Riverina,
Volcanic Plain, Wannon, Wimmera. Tasmania:
North West, Central
Highlands, Midlands,
East Coast.

Notes. Specimens seen from
Tas., S.A. and some from Vic. differ in
the upper leaf surface which is grooved and with distinct soft, broad, white,
translucent hair-like projections.

Endemic. All states but N.T. and
Qld. Grows alongside creeks and rivers, often in shallow water. Flowers
Nov.-Jan. Fruits Feb.

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