Phalaris angusta* Nees ex Trin. Spec. Gram. 1: pl. 78 (1828).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Poeae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: LT: Trinius, Sp. Gram. t. 78 (1828), LT
designated by Anderson, Iowa St. J. Sci. 36: ? (1961).
Key references
(books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (23), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2002] J.Wheeler, N.Marchant & M.Lewington, Flora of the
South West (427), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales (337), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia,
Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (152).
Illustrations:
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (24
& 25, Pl. 4 & 5), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley &
D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn (337).
Habit. Annual.
Culms stature robust to moderate or slender to delicate, 29–150 cm tall, 4–7
-noded. Ligule an eciliate membrane or a fringed membrane, a ciliolate
membrane, entire. Leaf-blades 5.5–27 cm long, 4–10 mm wide.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a panicle. Panicle linear or oblong, 2.5–18.5 cm long,
0.6–1.5 cm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile. Fertile spikelets 1 or more flowered, with 1 fertile floret,
comprising 2 basal sterile florets, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), without
rachilla extension, obovate, laterally compressed, 2.9–5.5 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic, chartaceous, keeled,
1-keeled, winged on keel, winged narrowly, 3–5 -nerved. Lower glume apex
muticous. Upper glume elliptic, 2.8–5.5 mm long, chartaceous, keeled, 1-keeled,
winged on keel, 3–5 -nerved. Upper glume surface scabrous. Florets. Basal
sterile florets 2 or more, barren, without significant palea. Lemma of lower
sterile floret 25 % of length of spikelet, without keels. Lemma of upper
sterile floret 1–1.4 mm long.
Fertile lemma 2–3.8 mm
long, keeled, 5 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented. Palea 2 -nerved, without
keels. Lodicules present. Anthers 3. Grain 1.4–1.6 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Africa, Australasia, North America, and South America.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, Queensland, New South Wales.
Western Australia:
Drummond. Queensland: Moreton. New South Wales: North Coast,
Central Coast, Southern Tablelands.
Notes. Vickery (1975)
notes that it reportedly provides excellent winter feed when other grasses are
growing only slowly.
One of a group of species indigenous to
several areas in the Americas, (P. lemmonii) also in the group, has been
recorded in Australia.
Introduced.Native to
South America and southern North America. Wet sites and those susceptible to
seasonal inundation. Vickery (1975) notes that it appears to be distributed by
flooding on low-lying ground. Flowers Oct.-Nov. Fruits Nov.-Jan.
