Melinis, Alexfloydia, Dallwatsonia. Steinchisma (ms.) Oct 2010

MELINIS

B.K.Simon, C.M.Weiller & R.D.Webster

Melinis P. Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr. 54 (1812); from the Greek meline (millet).

Type: M. minutiflora P.Beauv.

Annual or perennial, stoloniferous. Flowering culms caespitose or decumbent, sparingly branched. Leaves; ligule a fringe of hairs; leaf blades flat, linear, hairy or glabrous, smooth. Inflorescence a panicle. Primary branches with spreading secondary branches, with loosely arranged spikelets. Pedicels flexuous. Spikelets solitary, laterally compressed, oblong. Glumes unequal, awned or awnless, rounded on the back; lower glume ovate to oblong, membranous, smooth; upper glume the length of the lower lemma, oblong, 5–7-nerved, chartaceous, scabrous, cleft, muticous. Lower floret sterile; lemma oblong, chartaceous, 5-nerved, hairy or glabrous, muticous or awned; palea absent. Upper floret bisexual, shorter than the lower floret; lemma 5-nerved, hyaline or membranous, smooth, oblong to elliptic, rounded on the back, with pronounced nerves, glabrous, acute, muticous; palea hyaline to cartilaginous, smooth.

A genus of 22 species, most native to tropical and southern Africa and a few in Madagascar, tropical South America and the West Indies. Two introduced species in Australia. A homogeneous genus of barely distinct species. It includes Rhynchelytrum, although the two "genera" differ in spikelet shape (Clayton and Renvoize, 1986).

Anonymous, Efwatakala grass (Melinis minutiflora Beauv.), Bull. Misc. Inf. Kew 1922: 305–316 (1922); G. Zizka, Revision der Melinidae Hitchcock (Poaceae: Panicoideae), Biblioth. Bot. 138:1–149 (1988); R.D.Webster, Melinis in Austral. Paniceae 104–105 (1987).

Leaves covered with short sticky hairs; spikelets 1.7–2.3 mm long,  glabrous;

                                                                                         upper glume awnless                 1. *Melinis minutiflora

Leaves not covered with sticky hairs; spikelets 3.2–5.5 mm long, hairy;  

                                                                                       upper glume awned                          2.  *Melinis repens


1. *Melinis minutiflora P. Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr. 54, t. 11, f. 4 (1812).

T: Rio-Janiero, [Brazil], J.de Jussieu; holo: G (photo: BRI), n.v.

Illustrations: C.A.Gardner, Fl. W. Australia 1: 275 (1952); J.C.Tothill & J.B.Hacker, Grasses of Southern Queensland 362 (1983); S.W.L.Jacobs & C.A.Wall in G.J.Harden (ed.), S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn, 299 (2008).

Slender perennial. Flowering culms decumbent, 30–120 cm tall, 5–12 noded. Leaves; ligule 0.6–2 mm long; leaf blades 5–17 cm long, 3–11 mm wide, with hairy leaf blades and sheaths, hairs viscous with an odorous substance. Inflorescence 6–25 cm long. Primary branches 1–5 cm long. Pedicels 0.6–3 mm long. Spikelets 30–150 on a typical lowermost primary branch, glabrous, 1.7–2.3 mm long, 0.6–0.8 mm wide. Glumes rounded on the back; lower glume reduced to a minute scale 0.2–0.3 mm long; upper glume 1.7–2.3 mm long, oblong, 7-nerved, scabrous, muticous. Lower floret sterile; lemma 1.7–2.3 mm long, oblong, chartaceous, glabrous, awned, with awn 4–12 mm long; palea absent. Upper floret; lemma 1.5–2 mm long, hyaline or membranous, oblong to elliptic, acute; palea hyaline. Anthers 1–1.5 mm long. Molasses Grass.

Introduced from Africa or South America. Mainly recorded from coastal Qld and northern N.S.W. Although there are records from south-western WA and the N.T. these are probably not persisting, as there are no recent records from those two regions.

Tropical and subtropical rain forests, tropical and subtropical wet sclerophyll forests, dry sclerophyll forests, and tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands. Mesophytic. Flowering June to Aug. Map 1210.

W.A.: Carlton Reach Experiment Plots Ord River, C.A.Gardner 7399 (PERTH). N.T.:Nhulunbuy, Gove Peninsula, R. Hinz 150 (DNA). Qld: Daintree N.P., Little Daintree R, P.I.Forster 22975, R.Jago, R.Jensen & R.Booth (BRI, DNA, QRS); 2.5 km W of Herberton, B.Conn & J.DeCampo 1298 (BRI, CANB, CNS); Sinnamon Park, Brisbane, A.R.Bean 17683 (BRI, MEL). N.S.W.: Kingscliffe, R.Coveny 5065 (BRI, NSW).

In some Pacific countries it is regarded as a good forage grass but is considered an undesirable weed in Australia. Although highly palatable and suitable for pasture it grows thickly from rooted runners and dominates other species; dense mats formed by this plant can be fire-resistant. It diffes from M. repens by the awnless upper glume, leaves with sticky hairs and the glabrous spikelets.

2. *Melinis repens (Willd.) Zizka, Biblioth. Bot. 138: 55 (1988).

Rhynchelytrum repens (Willd.) C.E.Hubb., Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1934: 110 (1934); Saccharum repens Willd., Sp. Pl. 4th edn, 1: 322 (1797). T: Habitat in Guinea, [Ghana], P.E.Isert s.n.; holo: B, n.v.; IDC microfiche 7440/1.87/25.

Tricholaena rosea Nees, Cat. Sem. Hort. Vratis. 2, 3 (1835); Rhynchelytrum roseum (Nees) Bews, World Grasses 223 (1929). T: Crescit ad Promontorium bonae spei, praesertim in terra Caffron sed et in districtu Ceded Territory dicto, ad fines Caffron sed etiam in districtu Zwellendam, [South Africa]; Drege 4319 & 4321; syn: B, n.v..

[Tricholaena wightii auct].

[Trichalaena teneriffae auct.].

Illustrations: C.A.Gardner, Fl. W. Australia 1: 275 (1952) as Rhynchelytrum repens; J.C.Tothill & J.B.Hacker, Grasses of Southern Queensland 362 (1983) as Rhynchelytrum repens; J.P.Jessop, G.R.M. Dashorst & F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia 455, Fig. 387 (2006).

Annual or perennial, with or without rhizomes. Flowering culms caespitose or decumbent, 30–100 cm tall, 4–6 noded. Leaves; ligule 0.7–1.2 mm long; leaf blades 3–20 cm long, 3–6 mm wide, glabrous. Inflorescence 8–17 cm long. Primary branches 25–60 cm long. Pedicels 0.5–5 mm long. Spikelets 20–50 on a typical lowermost primary branch, hairy, ovate to elliptic, gaping at maturity, 3.2–5.5 mm long. Glumes keeled or rounded on the back; lower glume 0.3–1.5 mm long, oblong to linear, nerveless, rough to muricate, setose, obtuse; upper glume 3–5.3 mm long, 5-nerved, hairy (setose), shortly awned, with awn 0.5–1.5 mm long. Lower floret male; lemma 3–5.3 mm long, chartaceous; lemma setose, shortly awned, with awn 0.5–1.5 mm long; palea narrowly elliptic. Upper floret; lemma 2–2.4 mm long, cartilaginous; palea cartilaginous. Anthers 2–2.4 mm long. Red Natal Grass.

Introduced from Africa. Scatterd in all mainland States, in disturbed areas.

Tropical and subtropical rain forests, tropical and subtropical wet sclerophyll forests, dry sclerophyll forests, Brigalow forests, tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands, temperate sub-humid woodlands, semi-arid shrub woodlands, arid and semi-arid low woodlands, acacia shrublands, and coastal grasslands. Mesophytic. Flowering sporadically throughout the year. Map 1211.

W.A.: 6.5 km SE of Maingenew, B.J.Lepschi 2680 & T.R.Lally (BRI, CANB, PERTH). N.T.: 23 km E of Mamukala on Arhem Hwy, Kakadu N.P. B.K.Simon 4362 (BRI, CANB, DNA). S.A.: Flinders Ranges, Mambray Ck, D.E.Symon 14702 (AD, BRI). Qld: 4 km N of Moonoomoo, E.J.Thompson BUC798 & B.K.Simon (BRI, K, NSW). N.S.W.: Morriset, P.C.Jobson 4301, M.D.Bennie & R.Wakefield (BRI, MEL, NSW). Vic: Footscray Railway Station, V.Stajsic 549 (AD, BRI, CANB, MEL, NSW, S).

Easily distinguished by the red inflorescence. It differs from M. minutiflora by the awned upper glume, leaves not with sticky hairs and the hairy spikelets. Introduced throughout tropical regions of the world, where it is now weedy. In Australia, it is common in the non-arid regions. There is great variation in spikelet size of this species. Grows in waste places, on roadsides and often gives a characteristic red colour to the landscape when it becomes established.







ALEXFLOYDIA

B.K. Simon

Alexfloydia B.K.Simon,  Austrobaileya 3: 670 (1992). Named for Alex Floyd, an ex-New South Wales forest botanist and discoverer of this grass.

Type: A. repens B.K.Simon.

Perennial. Flowering culms decumbent, sparingly branched, terminated by a solitary inflorescence. Leaves; ligule a fringe of hairs; leaf blades flat, linear, glabrous, smooth. Inflorescence a panicle. Pedicels straight. Spikelets abaxial, laterally compressed, elliptic. Glumes 2, the lower slightly shorter, awnless, chartaceous, acute,  rounded on the back; lower glume 5–7-nerved, glabrous, ovate, smooth, acute; upper glume 9-nerved, sparely pilose in the middle, elliptic.  Lower floret; lemma 9-nerved, elliptic, chartaceous, glabrous; palea elliptic, acute. Upper floret bisexual, shorter than the lower floret; lemma obscurely 5-nerved, yellow, membranous, smooth, oblong, acute; palea membranous, smooth. Lodicules 2, membranous.  Anthers 3, c. 2.5 mm long.

A segregate from Panicum, distinguished by the lateral spikelet compression, and a 9-nerved upper glume and lower lemma.

B.K.Simon, Studies in Australian grasses 6. Alexfloydia, Cliffordiochloa and Dallwatsonia, three new Panicoid genera from eastern Australia, Austrobaileya 3: 669–681 (1992); Alexfloydia in L.Watson & M.J.Dallwitz, The Grass Genera of the World 78-79.

A monotypic genus restricted to a small area south of Coffs Harbour of the north coast of N.S.W.

Alexfloydia repens B.K. Simon, Austrobaileya 3: 670 (1992).

T: Boambee, Cordwells Ck, Duttons Estate, N.S.W., 7 Apr. 1991, A.G.Floyd 2165; holo: BRI; iso: BRI, CANB, DNA, K, L, MEL, MO, NSW.

Illustrations: S.W.L.Jacobs & D.W.Hardin in G.J.Harden (ed.), Fl. New South Wales 4: 481–482 (1993); S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn, 113 (2008).

Flowering culms 18–24 cm tall, 3–4 noded (vertical culms). Leaves; ligule 0.2 mm long; leaf blades 0.5–6 cm long, 1–1.5 mm wide. Inflorescence 0.15 cm long. Pedicels 4–7 mm long. Spikelets 3–5 on a typical inflorescence, 3–3.5 mm long, c.1.5 mm wide; lower glume c.2 mm long, 5-nerved; upper glume c.3 mm long, elliptic, 9-nerved. Lower floret; lemma c.3 mm long.  Upper floret; lemma 1.5-2 mm long; palea 1.5-2 mm long  Fig xx (B.K.Simon Austrobaileya 3: 671, fig. 1 (1992)).

Endemic. Restricted to an area round Boambee and Sawtell, south of Coffs Harbour, N.S.W.

Mesophytic. Flowering Sep. to Nov.  Map 1212.

N.S.W.: Pine Ck, North Bonville Development area, A.G.Floyd 3429 (BRI); Boambee, Cordwells Ck, Duttons Estate, A.G.Floyd 2165 (AD, B, BRI, CBG, NSW, PERTH, PRE, US); loc. cit., Nov.1966, P.Richards s.n. (BRI); Bonville Ck, A.G.Floyd 2216 (BRI); Pine Ck, E of Bonville, G.J.Harden 93038 & D.W.Hardin (BRI, NSW).

Alexfloydia repens is currently known from less than ten locations in a small area south of Coffs Harbour and individual patches are small. Only one location is within a conservation reserve (Bongil Bongil National Park). It has been recorded in the understorey of Casuarina glauca forest and along the uppermost fringe of mangroves. It is the sole food plant for the hesperiid butterfly Ocybadistes knightorum Lambkin and Donaldson. When published the spikelets were described as being adaxial, with the lower glume directed towards the inflorescence axis, but another examination of material indicates in fact that the spikelets are abaxial.

DALLWATSONIA

B.K. Simon

Dallwatsonia B.K. Simon, Austrobaileya 3: 678 (1992); named for M.J.Dallwitz (ex C.S.I.R.O. Division of Entomology) and L.Watson (ex R.S.B.S, A.N.U.), pioneers of the DELTA sytem and its application to grass sytematics.

Type: D. felliana B.K.Simon.

Perennial. Flowering culms caespitose, sparingly branched, terminated by a solitary inflorescence. Leaves; ligule a fringed membrane with fringe extremely short; leaf blades flat, lanceolate, glabrous. Inflorescence a panicle.

Pedicels straight. Spikelets abaxial or adaxial, laterally compressed, lanceolate. Glumes 2, very unequal, awnless, glabrous, rounded on the back; lower glume ovate, membranous, smooth, 5-nerved; upper glume lanceolate, membranous, 6–7-nerved. Lower floret sterile; lemma lanceolate, membranous, glabrous; palea linear. Upper floret bisexual; lemma white, membranous, smooth, lanceolate, rounded on the back, glabrous, acute; palea membranous, smooth.

A monotypic genus endemic to Qld. The genus fits in a clade with Steinchisma, Panicum sect. Laxa, Plagiantha, Otachyrium and other genera (Zuloaga, pers.com.). 

B.K.Simon, Studies in Australian grasses 6. Alexfloydia, Cliffordiochloa and Dallwatsonia, three new Panicoid genera from eastern Australia, Austrobaileya 3: 669–681 (1992); Dallwatsonia  in L.Watson & M.J.Dallwitz, The Grass Genera of the World 279-280.

Dallwatsonia felliana B.K. Simon,

T: Langi Lagoon, 25 km N of Ranger Stn, Rokeby Natl Park, 30 Apr. 1991, D.G.Fell 2295; holo: BRI; iso: CANB, K.

Flowering culms 130 cm tall, 7 noded. Leaves; ligule 0.5 mm long; leaf blades 15–30 cm long, 3.5–7 mm wide. Inflorescence 22 cm long. Primary branches 0.6 cm long. Pedicels 0.1–4 mm long. Spikelets 35 on a typical lowermost primary branch, 3.5–4 mm long, 1.5 mm wide; lower glume 1–1.5 mm long;  upper glume 3.5-4 mm long. Lower floret; lemma 3.5-4 mm long; palea vestigial, a very narrow membrane c.2 mm long. Upper floret very slightly shorter than the lower floret; lemma 3-3.5 mm long. Anthers c.1.5 mm long. Lodicules very small. Fig xx (Austrobaileya 3: 678 (1992)).

Endemic. From two localities in Cape York Peninsula, Qld.

Hydrophytic. Flowering Apr. to June. Map 1214.

Qld: 50 km WNW of Heathlands, J.R.Clarkson 9872 & V.J.Neldner (BRI, MBA); Langi Lagoon, Rokeby National Park, D.G.Fell 2629 (BRI, L, K, MO, NSW).

When published the spikelets were described as being adaxial, with the lower glume directed towards the inflorescence axis, but another examination showed some to be abaxial and in others it is difficult to ascertain as the pedicel length is too long to be able observe spikelet orientation accurately.




STEINCHISMA

B.K. Simon

Steinchisma Raf., Bull. Bot. [Geneve] 1: 220 (1830). From Greek steinos (narrow) and chasma (yawning), alluding to the gaping lower floret.

Type: S. hians (Elliot) Nash. Fasciculochloa B.K.Simon & C.M.Weiller, Austrobaileya 4: 375 (1995).

Perennial. Flowering culms sparingly branched, terminated by a solitary inflorescence. Leaves; ligule a fringed membrane; leaf blades flat, linear, glabrous or hairy at base of leaf on adaxial surface. Plants bisexual.  Inflorescence a panicle. Primary branches not whorled at the lowermost inflorescence node. Spikelets abaxial, laterally compressed or terete, oblong. Glumes 2, ± equal, awnless, rounded on the back, glabrous; lower glume; oblong, membranous; upper glume membranous. Lower floret sterile; lemma membranous, glabrous; palea acute. Upper floret bisexual, shorter than lwer floret; lemma similar in texture to the glumes, uniformly striate, elliptic, rounded on the back, glabrous; palea smooth.

The genus is difficult to distinguish from Panicum until the fruit ripens and the palea develops its characteristic thickening (Clayton and Renvoize, 1986). The genus grows in open areas or near the margins of rivers, streams and wet areas generally.

B.K.Simon & C.M.Weiller, Fasciculochloa, a new grass genus (Poaceae:Paniceae) from south-eastern Queensland, Austrobaileya 4: 369–379 (1995); B.Simon, Steinchisma hians (Elliot) Nash, the correct name for Fasciculochloa sparshottiorum B.K.Simon & C.M.Weiller, Austrobaileya 5: 583–584 (1999); B.K.Simon (2003). Steinchisma laxa (Sw.) Zuloaga, the correct name for Cliffordiochloa parvispiculata B.K.Simon. Austrobaileya 6: 561–562; F.O.Zuloaga, O.Morrone, et al. Revision y analysis cladistico de Steinchisma (Poaceae: Panicoideae:Paniceae). Ann. Miss. Bot. Gard. 85: 631-656 (1998).

Spikelets 1.8-2.6 mm long; lower glume 3-nerved                                       *Steinchisma hians


Spikelets 1.4-1.7 mm long; lower glume 1-nerved                                       *Steinchisma laxa

1. *Steinchisma hians (Elliot) Nash, Fl. S.E. U.S. 105 (1903).

Panicum hians Elliott, Sketch Bot. S. Carolina 1: 118 ( 1816). T: S. Elliott s.n., Aug-Oct, USA: South Carolina: Charleston Co; holo: CHARL (photo BRI), n.v.; iso: US (photo BRI).

Fasciculochloa sparshottiorum B.K.Simon & C.M.Weiller, Austrobaileya 4: 375 (1995): T: Hancock Brothers Pine Plantation, 9 km SSE of Logan Village, 27 Jan. 1994, B.K.Simon 4270, E.J.Thompson, P. & K. Sparhott & D.A.Simon; holo: BRI; iso: AD, B, BRI, CANB, DNA, IBSC, K, L, MEL, MO, NSW, PERTH, PRE, SRGH, US).

Illustrations: S.A.Renvoize, Gramineas de Bolivia 414. Fig.88 (1998); D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass (2002); M.E.Barkworth et al, Flora of North America north of Mexico Vol 25 Poaceae, part 2, 564 (2003).

Flowering culms to 60 cm tall, 3–4 noded. Leaves; ligule to 0.4 mm long, truncate; leaf blades to 20 cm long, to 3.5 mm wide. Inflorescence to 15 cm long. Primary branches with spreading secondary branches, with loosely arranged spikelets, to 0.5 cm long. Pedicels 0.3–1 mm long, flexuous. Spikelets to 45 on a typical lowermost primary branch, paired, to 2.5 mm long and 1 mm wide; lower glume to 1 mm long, 3-nerved, smooth, acute or cleft; upper glume to 1.7 mm long, elliptic, 3–5-nerved, acute. Lower floret; lemma to 2.5 mm long, to 0.5 mm wide, ovate-elliptic, 5-nerved; palea ovate-elliptic. Upper floret; lemma to 2.2 mm long, chartaceous, obscurely nerved, acute; palea chartaceous, enclosed at its apex by the lemma. Anthers 2, 0.75 mm long. Fig xx (Austrobaileya 4: 375 (1995)).

Introduced from America. Collected to date from a single locality in S.E.Qld.

Hydrophytic. Flowering Nov. to Jan. (& Jul.). Map 1110.

Qld: Hancock Pine Plantation, K.Sparshott 252 & P.Sparshott (BRI, CANB, NSW, SP); loc cit., D.Halford 3388 & C.Appelman (BRI); D.Halford 3389 & C.Appelman (BRI, MEL), D.Halford 3390 & C.Appelman (BRI, MEL, NSW); Logan Village, Melaleuca swamp, F.Jordan s.n. (BRI).

Only occurring in one region of SE Qld, where it is associated in marshy area dominated by Melaleuca linariifolia.  This species is interesting anatomically in that it is has a C3-C4 intermediate Kranz leaf anatomy.

2. *Steinchisma laxa (Sw) Zuloaga, American J. Bot. 90:817 (2003).

Panicum laxum Sw., Prodr. 23 (1788). T: Swartz s.n., Jamaica, holo:S, n.v.

Cliffordiochloa parvispicula B.K. Simon, Austrobaileya 3: 676 (1992). T: Mena View, Mena Ck, Mena Creek Valley, 26 Jan 1983, D.J.Mitchell 11; holo: BRI; iso: CANB.

Illustrations: H. Duistermaat, Field Guide to the Grasses of Singapore (2005); S.A.Renvoize, The Grasses of Bahia, 132, Fig.46 (1984); S.A.Renvoize, Gramineas de Bolivia 392, Fig. 83 (1998).

Flowering culms 60–80 cm tall, 4–6 noded. Leaves; ligule to 0.5 mm long; leaf blades 5–15 cm long, 2–3 mm wide. Inflorescence 10–20 cm long. Primary branches 0.4–1 cm long. Pedicels 0.5–1.5 mm long, straight. Spikelets to 50 on a typical lowermost primary branch, to 1.5 mm long and 0.5 mm wide; lower glume to 0.5 mm long, 1-nerved, smooth or scabrous on keel; upper glume to 1.5 mm long, elliptic, pinched at apex, 3–5-nerved. Lower floret; lemma to 1.5 mm long, elliptic; palea narrowly elliptic. Upper floret; lemma to 1.2 mm long, white, hyaline, apically rounded; palea hyaline. Fig xx (Austrobaileya 3: 675, fig. 3 (1992)) as Cliffordiochloa parvispicula.

Endemic. Only collected for two localities in north Qld. Planted as cv.'Shadegrow' at the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha.

Hydrophytic. Flowering Jan. to Mar. Map 1213.

Qld: Mena Ck, Mar. 1983, D.J.Mitchell s.n. (BRI, CANB); 90 m E of the Alice river, 7.5 km East of Mirriwinni, Eubenangee N. P., J.Kemp JEK 17004 (BRI) & J.Kemp JEK 17080 (BRI); Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens, Brisbane. Cultivated under Bombax trees below lookout, Dec 2000, B.K.Simon s.n. (BRI) & July 2002, D.C.Johnson s.n..

It has only been recently collected for the second time from N Qld. It has recently been reported as a weed in Florida and as a "widespread tropical weedy grass" on a recent website of this species. 

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