Agrostis parviflora R.Br. Prodr. 170
(1810).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae.
Tribe Poeae.
Common name:
Hair Bent.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: Nelson s.n., Feb 1792, Australia:
Tasmania: Adventure Bay (BM).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales (110), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia,
Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (170).
Illustrations:
[2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australiia, [1994]
N.G.Walsh, Flora of Victoria 2, [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley &
D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn (110), [2009].
A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2 (168, Fig.25).
Derivation:
from the Latin parvus (small) and flos (flower). Spikelets small
or with few florets.
Habit. Annual.
Culms erect or geniculately ascending, stature slender to delicate, 15–40 cm
tall, 2 -noded. Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule an
eciliate membrane, 0.5–2 mm long, truncate or obtuse. Leaf-blades flat or
conduplicate or involute, 1–10 cm long, 0.25–1(–1.5) mm wide. Leaf-blade
surface smooth.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle pyramidal, 3–9(–12) cm long, 2–7 cm
wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate, laterally compressed, 1.5–2
mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous, keeled,
1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1
-nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 1.3–2 mm long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Lemma surface glabrous.
Lemma apex entire, muticous or awned. Median (principal) awn dorsal. Palea
absent. Lodicules present. Anthers 3.
Continental Distribution:
Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania.
New South Wales:
Southern Tablelands. Victoria: East Gippsland, Snowfields. Tasmania:
West Coast, Central Highlands, Ben Lomond, South West.
Notes. Endemic. Widespread
in Tas., N.S.W. S from the Brindabella Ra., A.C.T. and Vic. From sea-level to
altitudes of about 1200 m, in depressions, sod tussock grassland, and in fens,
bogs and wet areas in alpine herbfields. Flowers Dec.-Mar.
