Sclerochloa dura* (L.) Beauv. Agrost.
98. (1812).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Poeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Cynosurus durus
L., Sp. Pl.
1: 72 (1753).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: LT: Gramen arvense, polypodii panicula crassiore,
in Barrelier, Pl. per Galliam, Hispaniam et Italiam observ. 1213, t.50 (1714),
LT designated by Stace & Jarvis, Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 91: 438 (1985).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South
Australia (166), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales (365), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia,
Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (297).
Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (167, fig. 118), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs,
R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn
(365), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2
(298, Fig. 40).
Habit. Annual.
Culms 4–10(–18) cm tall. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 1–2.1 mm long, acute.
Leaf-blades flat or conduplicate, 2–7 cm long, 1–3.4 mm wide.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a raceme. Racemes 1, oblong, 1–4 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets, comprising 2–4 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the apex,
oblong, laterally compressed, 5.6–11 mm long. Rhachilla internodes elongated
between glumes (and swollen).
Glumes. Glumes
dissimilar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong, herbaceous, much thinner
on margins, keeled, 1-keeled, 3 -nerved. Upper glume oblong, 3–5.1 mm long,
herbaceous, keeled, 1-keeled, 5–9 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 4–6.4 mm long, keeled, 5–7 -nerved.
Continental
Distribution: Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia,
North America, and South America.
Australian
Distribution: South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria,
Tasmania.
South
Australia: Northern Lofty, Yorke
Peninsula. New South
Wales: Southern Tablelands. Victoria: Riverina, Volcanic Plain,
Wimmera. Tasmania: Midlands.
Notes. Native
to the Mediterranean. Flowers Oct.-Nov.
