Scrotochloa urceolata (Roxburgh)
E.J.Judziewicz. Phytologia 56:
300 (1984).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Pharoideae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Pharus
urceolatus Roxb., Fl. Ind. 3: 611–612 (1832).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: Anon., Malaysia: Pulo Pinang (BM). Herb.
Roxburgh.
Recent synonyms:
Leptaspis urceolata.
Key references
(books and floras): [1969] E.E.Henty, Manual Grasses New Guinea
(120 as Scrotochloa), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass,
Grasses of Australia, [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol
44A. Poaceae 2 (9).
Illustrations:
[2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2 (8,
Fig.1A-B).
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present, elongated. Culms erect or geniculately ascending
or decumbent, 20–50 cm tall. Mid-culm internodes hollow, thin-walled. Ligule a
fringed membrane, a ciliolate membrane, 0.5 mm long, abaxially hairy.
Leaf-blades elliptic, 15–25 cm long, 40–60 mm wide.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle ovate, 10–12 cm long, contracted
about primary branches.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled, 1 in the cluster. Male spikelets pedicelled, 1 in a
cluster. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), without
rachilla extension, obovate, laterally compressed, 4–6 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume obovate, scarious, without
keels, 7–9 -nerved. Lower glume surface indumented. Upper glume obovate, 4–6 mm
long, scarious, keeled, 2-keeled, 7 -nerved. Upper glume surface indumented. Florets.
Fertile florets female.
Fertile lemma 4–8 mm
long, without keel, 5–7(–13) -nerved. Lemma surface indumented. Lodicules
absent or vestigial. Anthers 6.
Continental
Distribution: Tropical Asia, Australasia, and Pacific.
Australian
Distribution: Queensland.
Queensland:
Cook.
Notes.
Known from few collections in far N Qld. Sri Lanka and southern India to
Vietnam, Indonesia, New Guinea, Australia and the Solomon Is. In vine forest
and rainforest. Flowers recorded in Oct.