Pentameris airoides* Nees. Sem. Hort.
Bot. Vratisl. (1834).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Danthonioideae. Tribe Danthonieae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Pentameris
airoides Nees, Sem. Hort. Bot. Vratisl. (1834).
Recent synonyms:
Pentaschistis airoides.
Key references
(books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (54), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2002] J.Wheeler, N.Marchant & M.Lewington, Flora of the
South West (427), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of
South Australia (306), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley &
D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales (335).
Illustrations:
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (53,
Pl. 13), [2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of Australia 44B: Poaceae 3
(Fig.4, A-D as subsp. airoides), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst,
F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (307, Fig. 240), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs,
R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn
(335).
Habit. Annual
or perennial. Culms 6–35 cm tall, 2–4 -noded. Lateral branches simple. Leaves
mostly basal. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 3–6 cm long, 1–3 mm wide.
Leaf-blade surface indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle ovate, 2–6 cm long, 2–5 cm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets, comprising 2 fertile floret(s), without rachilla extension, cuneate,
laterally compressed, 2–3 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, shiny. Lower glume elliptic, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved.
Upper glume elliptic, 2.5–5 mm long, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 1.5–2.5 mm long, without keel, 5–9 -nerved. Lemma surface
glabrous. Lemma apex lobed, awned, 3 -awned. Median (principal) awn from a
sinus, 5–8 mm long overall, with a twisted column. Lateral lemma awns present.
Lodicules present. Anthers 3. Grain 1.1 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Africa and Australasia.
Australian Distribution:
Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria.
Western Australia:
Drummond. South Australia: Flinders Ranges, Eyre Peninsula, Northern
Lofty, Murray, Southern Lofty, South-eastern. New South Wales: Central
Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, South-Western Slopes, South-Western Plains.
Notes.
Widespread annual weed in the temperate southern half of Australia, introduced
from South Africa, widespread annual. Flowers Aug. to Dec.
