Panicum simile
Domin. Biblioth. Bot. 85: 322 (1915).
Classification.
(GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Panicoideae. Paniceae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: "Queensland: Sandhügel der Dividing Range
östlich von Pentland; Savannenwälder bei Pentland.", Domin, II. 1910.
Recent synonyms: P. fulgidum, P. effusum var. simile.
Key references
(books and floras): [1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus (197 as Panicum
bicolor), [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (487as Panicum
bicolor), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia,
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales (318).
Illustrations:
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales, 4th edn (318).
Habit. Annual.
Rhizomes present. Stolons absent. Culms erect, stature slender to delicate,
20–70 cm tall, wiry, 2–4 -noded. Mid-culm internodes glabrous or pilose.
Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Lateral branches simple or sparsely branched.
Leaf-sheaths hairy. Ligule a fringed membrane, a ciliate membrane, 0.25 mm
long. Leaf-blades flat or involute, 3–15 cm long, 1–3.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade
surface glabrous or indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle ovate, 4–20 cm long, 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, lanceolate or
elliptic, dorsally compressed, 2.25–3.5 mm long. Rhachilla internodes elongated
between glumes.
Glumes. Glumes
thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, membranous, without keels, 3–5
-nerved. Upper glume elliptic, 2.2–2.8 mm long, membranous, without keels, 5–7
-nerved. Florets. Basal sterile florets 1, barren, with palea or without
significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret 90–100 % of length of
spikelet, membranous, 7 -nerved.
Fertile lemma 1.7–2.5
mm long, without keel. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Northern Territory, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria.
Northern Territory:
Darwin & Gulf. Queensland: Burke, Burnett, Cook, Darling Downs,
Leichhardt, Mitchell, Moreton, North Kennedy, Port Curtis, South Kennedy,
Warrego, Wide Bay. New South Wales: North Coast, Central Coast, South
Coast, Central Tablelands, North-Western Slopes. Victoria: East
Gippsland.
Notes. In
tropical and subtropical rain forests, tropical and subtropical wet sclerophyll
forests, temperate wet sclerophyll forests, tropical and subtropical sub-humid
woodlands, acacia shrublands, and eucalypt shrublands.
