Panicum schinzii* Hack. ex Schinz. Verh. Bot. Vereins Prov. Brandenburg 30: 142
(1888).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Panicoideae. Paniceae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: H. Schinz 641, 1886, Namibia: Olukonda
(Z: IT: W(fragm., US-81101)). CS.
Recent synonyms:
P. laevifolium.
Key references
(books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (260 as P. laevifolium), [2002] D.Sharp &
B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia, [2006] J.Jessop,
G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (464), [2008]
S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales
(318).
Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (464, Fig. 398), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs,
R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn
(318).
Habit. Annual.
Rhizomes absent. Stolons absent. Culms erect or geniculately ascending or
decumbent, 30–120 cm tall, 3–6 -noded. Mid-culm internodes glabrous. Lateral
branches sparsely branched. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule a fringed
membrane or a fringe of hairs, a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades linear, 8–40 cm
long, 4–15 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle oblong or ovate, 10–35 cm long,
evenly furnished or with spikelets clustered towards branch tips.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. 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, elliptic or oblong,
dorsally compressed, 2.3–3 mm long. Rhachilla internodes brief up to lowest
fertile floret.
Glumes. Glumes
dissimilar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblate or obovate,
membranous, without keels, 0–1 -nerved. Lower glume apex muticous. Upper glume
elliptic or ovate, 2.2–3 mm long, membranous, without keels, 7–11 -nerved. Florets.
Basal sterile florets 1, male, with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret 100 %
of length of spikelet, membranous, 7–9 -nerved, muticous.
Fertile lemma 2–2.5 mm
long, without keel. Lemma apex muticous.
Continental
Distribution: Africa, Tropical Asia, and Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales,
Victoria.
Western Australia:
Drummond, Avon. South Australia: Murray, Southern Lofty, South-eastern. New
South Wales: North Coast, Central Coast, Northern Tablelands, Central
Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, North-Western Slopes, South-Western Slopes,
North-Western Plains, South-Western Plains.
Notes.
Diagnostic features that distinguish it from similar Australian species include
the male lower floret, the subequal florets, and the obscure nerves on the upper
floret.
Introduced. Native to
SW Africa and introduced in India and Australia. In tropical and subtropical
wet sclerophyll forests, dry sclerophyll forests, temperate sub-humid
woodlands, and eucalypt shrublands. Flowers Dec.-May.
