Pentapogon quadrifidus (Labill.) Baill. Histoire
des Plantes 12: 280 (1893).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Arundinoideae. Tribe Poeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Agrostis
quadrifida Labill., Nov. Holl. Pl. 1: 20, t. 22 (1804).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Tasmania: Coll?.
Key references
(books and floras): [1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus (171 as Agrostis
billardieri, 175), [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (572 as Pentapogon
billardieri), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South
Australia (235), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales (335), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia,
Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (234 & as var. quadrifidus, 235 as var. parviflorus).
Illustrations:
[1984] N.T.Burbidge. rev. S.W.L.Jacobs, Australian Grasses (207), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst,
F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (236, fig.180 as var. quadrifidus),
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales, 4th edn (335), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A:
Poaceae 2 (236, Fig.33 as var. quadrifidus).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms 10–70 cm tall. Leaves cauline. Ligule an eciliate membrane,
0.5–1(–2) mm long, truncate. Leaf-blades filiform, involute or convolute, 2–15
cm long, 0.3–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle linear, 2–10 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate or obovate, laterally
compressed, 4.3–8 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous,
keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Lower glume apex awned. Upper glume lanceolate,
3–8.1(–10) mm long, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume
surface asperulous. Upper glume apex awned.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 4.3–6(–7) mm long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Lemma apex awned, 5
-awned. Median (principal) awn from a sinus or dorsal, 7–20 mm long overall,
with a twisted column. Lateral lemma awns present.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania.
South Australia:
Murray, Southern Lofty, South-eastern. New South Wales: Northern
Tablelands, Southern Tablelands. Victoria: Lowan Mallee, Murray Mallee,
Wimmera. Tasmania: Furneaux Group, North East, West Coast, Central
Highlands, Midlands, East Coast.
Infra-specific taxa: var. quadrifidus, var. parviflorus.
Glumes 6.5–10 mm long;
awn to 20 mm long P. quadrifidus var. quadrifidus
Glumes 3–5 mm long; awn to
10 mm long P. quadrifidus var. parviflorus
