Lagurus ovatus* Linn. Sp. Pl. 1:
81 (1753).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae.
Tribe Poeae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: LT: (LINN-96.1). LT designated by Cope in Jarvis et
al., Regnum Veg. 59 (1993).
Key references
(books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (146), [2002] J.Wheeler, N.Marchant & M.Lewington, Flora
of the South West (421), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses
of South Australia (233), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley &
D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales (291), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora
of Australia,
Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (240).
Illustrations:
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia
1 Gramineae (148, Pl. 44), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses
of South Australia
(234, fig. 179), [1984] N.T.Burbidge.
rev. S.W.L.Jacobs, Australian Grasses (169), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley
& D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn (291), [2009].
A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia
44A: Poaceae 2 (241, Fig.34).
Habit. Annual.
Culms erect or geniculately ascending, 5–90 cm tall. Mid-culm nodes pubescent.
Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 1–4 mm long,
abaxially hairy, lacerate, truncate or obtuse. Leaf-blades linear or
lanceolate, 1–20 cm long, 2–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a panicle. Panicle oblong or ovate or globose, 0.8–7 cm
long, 0.6–2 cm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), with a barren rachilla extension, lanceolate, laterally compressed,
5.5–10 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous, without keels, 1 -nerved. Lower
glume surface indumented. Lower glume apex muticous or awned. Upper glume
lanceolate, 5.5–7.7(–10) mm long, membranous, without keels, 1 -nerved. Upper
glume surface indumented. Upper glume apex muticous or awned.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 4–5.1 mm long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented.
Lemma apex dentate, awned, 3 -awned. Median (principal) awn dorsal, 8–18 mm
long overall, with a twisted column. Lateral lemma awns present. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia,
North America, and South America.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South
Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, Lord Howe.
Western
Australia: Drummond, Dale, Menzies, Warren, Eyre. South Australia:
Nullabor, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern
Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South-eastern. Queensland:
Moreton, Port Curtis, Warrego. New South Wales:
North Coast,
Central Coast,
South Coast, Central Tablelands. Victoria:
East Gippsland, Gippsland Plain, Grampians, Lowan Mallee, Midlands, Murray
Mallee, Otway Plain, Otway Range, Wilsons Promontory, Riverina, Volcanic Plain,
Wannon. Tasmania: King Island, Furneaux
Group, North West,
North East, East Coast.
Notes. Cultivated as an
ornamental.
Introduced. Native of the Mediterranean, now widely naturalised. Coastal scrub,
often in sand dunes, occasionally found inland in dry open areas. Flowers
Sept.-Feb.
