Triodia plectrachnoides N. T. Burbidge. Austral. J. Bot. 1: 155 (1953).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Chloridoideae. Triodeae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia: Cannon Hill, about 12.24S 132.55E, on
exposed rocky slopes, greenish, branched tussocks, cocks up to 3 m 2 Sep 1946, S.T.
Blake 17132 (HT: CANB, BRI).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia.
Habit.
Perennial. Stolons present. Culms 30–300 cm tall. Mid-culm internodes glabrous.
Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath auricles absent, or present.
Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades straight or flexuous, aciculate,
conduplicate, 26–50 cm long, 0.7–1.3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle elliptic, 11–30 cm long, (2–)4–6 cm
wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets (2–4), comprising 2–4 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the
apex, oblong, laterally compressed, 5–12 mm long.
Glumes.
Glumes similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong, scarious or
indurate, without keels, 3(–5) -nerved. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower
glume apex mucronate. Upper glume oblong, 5–8 mm long, scarious or indurate,
without keels, 3(–5) -nerved. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex
entire or lobed, mucronate.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 5–7 mm long, without keel or keeled, 3–5 -nerved. Lemma surface
indumented. Lemma apex dentate or lobed. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Northern Territory.
Northern Territory:
Darwin & Gulf.
Notes.
Distinguished by its large, open panicle, with many long-pedicelled, closely
flowered, straw-yellow spikelets; glumes indurated, rounded on the back,
mucronate and often lobed at apex, slightly shorter than spikelet, with a basal
internode; lemmas unequally 3-lobed with awn-like mid-lobe, partly hirsute with
spreading hairs; glabrous, narrow palea c. as long as lemma; leaf sheaths
auriculate; ligule often long-ciliate; callus long-bearded.
Kakadu
Natl Park, N.T., and W.A. On sandstone and coarse conglomerate plateaux,
escarpments, gorges and massive outcrops among boulders and extensive rock
pavements, in red or yellow, shallow or deep sand, often in gullies,
depressions, rock crevices and near seasonal streams; flowers Dec.-July, Oct.
