Lamarckia aurea* (L.) Moench. Meth.
Pl. 201 (1794).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae.
Tribe Poeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Cynosurus
aureus L., Sp. Pl. 1: 73 (1753).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: LT: Anon., Europe
(LINN-91.19). LT designated by MeikleFl. Cyprus 2: 1727 (1985), but specific
sheet not indicated; specific sheet indicated by Scholz in Cafferty et al., Taxon
49(2): 249 (2000).
Key references
(books and floras): [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (636),
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (42),
[2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia, [2006]
J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (129),
[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
(347).
Illustrations:
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia
1 Gramineae (43, Pl. 11), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses
of South Australia
(130, fig. 85), [1984] N.T.Burbidge.
rev. S.W.L.Jacobs, Australian Grasses (171), [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 (345, Fig. 46).
Habit. Annual.
Culms geniculately ascending, 10–40 cm tall. Ligule an eciliate membrane,
4.3–10.2 mm long, acute. Leaf-blades 2.5–20 cm long, 2.6–7.5 mm wide.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a panicle. Panicle ovate, 1.5–6 cm long, gathered into
fascicles.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled, 1 in the cluster. Companion spikelets pedicelled, 3 in
the cluster (and a rudiment). Involucre composed of imperfect spikelets.
Companion spikelets developed, containing empty lemmas, 4–8 mm long. Companion
spikelet glumes mucronate or awned. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at
least 2 fertile florets, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), with diminished
florets at the apex, ovate, laterally compressed, 2.5–5 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate,
membranous, without keels, 1 -nerved. Lower glume apex mucronate or awned.
Upper glume lanceolate, 2.6–5 mm long, membranous, without keels, 1 -nerved. Upper
glume apex mucronate or awned.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 2.3 mm long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Lemma apex entire or
dentate, awned. Median (principal) awn subapical or from a sinus, 4.7–7.2 mm
long overall. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia,
Pacific, North America, and South America.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland,
New South Wales, Victoria.
Western
Australia: Irwin, Avon. South Australia: Gairdner-Torrens
Basin, Flinders
Ranges, Eastern, Eyre Peninsula,
Northern Lofty, Murray,
Southern Lofty. Queensland: Darling Downs, Maranoa, Moreton. New South Wales: Central
Coast, Northern Tablelands, North-Western Slopes, Central-Western Slopes,
South-Western Slopes, North-Western Plains, South-Western Plains, North Far
Western Plains. Victoria: Gippsland
Plain, Lowan Mallee, Murray
Mallee, Riverina, Wimmera.
Notes. Southern
and eastern mainland Australia.
Native to the Mediterranean, now widely
naturalized. Often in sandy soil, usually a weed of disturbed areas. Flowers
July-Apr.
