Tribolium echinatum* (Thunb.) S.A.
Renvoize. Kew Bull. 40: 798 (1985).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Danthonioideae. Tribe Danthonieae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Alopecurus
echinatus Thunb., Prodr. Pl. Cap. 19 (1794).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: ST: Thunberg 1711, South Africa (UPS). ST: Thunberg
1712, South Africa (UPS).
Recent synonyms:
Lasiochloa echinata.
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia.
Habit. Annual.
Culms decumbent, 7–30 cm tall. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 7–15 cm
long, 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a panicle. Panicle oblong or ovate, effuse, 1–5 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets ((2-)3(-4)), comprising (2–)3(–4) fertile floret(s), with diminished
florets at the apex, oblong, laterally compressed, 3.5–5 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume ovate, chartaceous,
keeled, 1-keeled, 5 -nerved. Lower glume surface indumented. Upper glume ovate,
3.5–4 mm long, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 5 -nerved. Upper glume surface
indumented.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 2.5–4 mm long, without keel, 7 -nerved. Lemma surface glabrous or
indumented. Palea 2 -nerved. Grain 1.2 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Africa and Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia.
Western Australia:
Drummond, Avon.
Notes.
Distinct from T. hispidum by the annual growth and the long-acuminate
glumes; from T. utriculosum by the slender glume-bristles, the larger
spikelets and the taller growth, as well as the glabrous lemma backs.
Introduced
from South Africa, a weed of disturbed areas. Flowers Sep. to Oct.
