Triodia molesta N. T.
Burbidge. Austral.
J. Bot. 1: 164
(1953).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Chloridoideae. Triodeae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: IT: S.T. Blake 6400, 26 Jun 1934, Australia:
Queensland: Gregory North Distric, Selwyn (US-2545316).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia.
Habit.
Perennial. Culms 15–180 cm tall. Mid-culm internodes pubescent. Mid-culm nodes
bearded. Leaf-sheaths hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades spreading,
straight, aciculate, conduplicate, 9–28 cm long, 0.8–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade
surface glabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle or a panicle of racemes. Panicle linear,
10–32 cm long, 1–2 cm wide, evenly furnished or contracted about primary
branches.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets (7–9), comprising 7–9 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the
apex, lanceolate, laterally compressed, 10–17 mm long.
Glumes.
Glumes similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate or oblong,
cartilaginous or coriaceous or indurate, without keels, 3–7 -nerved. Lower
glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex muticous or mucronate. Upper glume
lanceolate or oblong, 4.5–6 mm long, cartilaginous or coriaceous or indurate,
without keels, 3–7 -nerved. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex
entire or lobed, muticous or mucronate.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 4.5–6 mm long, without keel, 9 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented.
Lemma apex dentate or lobed, muticous. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Queensland.
Queensland:
Burke, Gregory North.
Notes.
Distinguished by its narrow, simple panicle; partly hirsute lemmas with ciliate
margins and lobes, and subequal subulate lobes; mostly glabrous paleas with
ciliate apex, the keels with prominent, entire and sometimes exposed keels;
woolly indumentum on leaves; relatively long, white-ciliate ligule.
Burke
and Gregory North Distruicts, Qld, between 18°S and 23°S, and from the N.T.
border to 144°E. A plant of hilly country and skeletal, shallow, gravelly or
stony soils, in association with sandstone, shales, quartzite, slates,
laterite, schists, conglomerate, granite and siltstone; flowers Mar.-May,
Sept.-Jan.
