Poa petrophila
Vickery. Contr. New South Wales Natl Herb. 4: 238, t. XII, 4–5 (1970).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Poeae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia: New South Wales: Barney's Cr, part
Headwaters of Happy Jacks Rv., ca. 16 mi S of Kiandra: on rocky outcrop of
slate on steep hillside: 21 Jan 1958, J. Vickery (HT: NSW 44267).
Key references
(books and floras): [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 (352), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia,
Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (317).
Illustrations:
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales, 4th edn (352).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms 20–70 cm tall, 1–2 -noded. Mid-culm internodes glabrous or
pubescent. Mid-culm nodes glabrous or pubescent. Lateral branches simple.
Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths smooth, hairy. Ligule a fringed membrane, a
ciliolate membrane, 0.4–1.7(–3) mm long, abaxially hairy, truncate. Leaf-blades
filiform, involute, 5–25 cm long, 0.5–0.8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface
indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle elliptic, 5–13 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets (3–8), comprising 3–8 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the
apex, oblong, laterally compressed, 4.3–7.7 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar. Lower glume oblong, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 3 -nerved. Upper
glume oblong, 2.5–3.5 mm long, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 3 -nerved. Upper
glume surface scabrous.
Florets. Fertile
lemma 3–5.1 mm long, keeled, 5 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented. Lodicules
present. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: New South Wales, Victoria.
New South Wales:
Southern Tablelands. Victoria: East Gippsland, Snowfields.
Notes. Endemic.
S of Kosciusko region. At c. 1400 m on shallow stony soils in exposed sites.
Flowers Nov.-Jan. Fruits Jan.-?.
