Thaumastochloa rubra

Thaumastochloa rubra M.S.M. Sosef & R. de Koning. Gard. Bull. Singapore 36: 157 (1983).

Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Panicoideae. Andropogoneae.

Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: IT: S.T. Blake 17636, 04 May 1947, Australia: Northern Territory, 198 m (L).

Key references (books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia.

Habit. Annual. Culms 20–45 cm tall, 4–6 -noded. Leaf-sheaths hairy. Ligule a fringed membrane, a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades linear, flat or involute, 1.5–5 cm long, 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface indumented.

Inflorescence. Inflorescence solid, a rame (spicate). Rhachis fragile but the lowest internode fused to peduncle.

Spikelets. Spikelets sessile, 1 in the cluster. Companion spikelets pedicelled, 1 in the cluster. Companion spikelets represented by barren pedicels. Apical sterile spikelets rudimentary. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, the lower floret barren (rarely male), the upper fertile, comprising 1 basal sterile florets, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), without rachilla extension, oblong, dorsally compressed, 3–4 mm long.

Glumes. Glumes dissimilar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong, indurate, keeled, 2-keeled, 7 -nerved. Upper glume elliptic, coriaceous, without keels. Florets. Basal sterile florets 1, barren, without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret hyaline.

Fertile lemma without keel, 2 -nerved. Anthers 3.

Continental Distribution: Australasia.

Australian Distribution: Northern Territory.

Northern Territory: Darwin & Gulf.

Notes. Sandy soils sometimes with Eucalyptus dichromophloia or E. tetradonta; a few localaties in northern N.T. Flowers May--June.

 

AVH 2011

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith