Pheidochloa gracilis S. T. Blake. Proc.
Roy. Soc. Queensland 56: 20 (1944).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Micrairoideae. Tribe Nardeae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: IT: S.T. Blake 13732, 8 Apr 1938, Australia:
Queensland: Cook Dist. (L, US-1868027).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia.
Habit. Annual.
Culms erect, stature slender to delicate, 6–50 cm tall, 3–5 -noded. Mid-culm
nodes glabrous. Lateral branches simple or branched. Ligule a fringe of hairs,
0.1–0.2 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform, convolute, 0.3–4 cm long, 0.2–0.4 mm
wide. Leaf-blade surface papillose.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a panicle. Panicle elliptic, 1.5–3.2 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, both fertile, comprising 2
fertile floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate, laterally
compressed, 5–13 mm long. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes.
Glumes.
Glumes dissimilar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, membranous,
without keels, 7 -nerved. Lower glume surface glabrous. Upper glume lanceolate,
5.1–11 mm long, membranous, without keels, 7 -nerved. Upper glume surface
smooth, glabrous.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 2.5–5 mm long, without keel, 7 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented.
Lemma apex entire, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn 20–45 mm long
overall. Palea 2 -nerved. Palea apex entire, muticous. Lodicules present.
Anthers 2. Grain 2 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Northern Territory, Queensland.
Northern Territory:
Darwin & Gulf. Queensland: Cook, North Kennedy.
Notes.
N.T. and Qld. In damp sandy heaths, herbfields, eucalypt or Melaleuca
woodlands. Flowers Apr.-Sept.
