Agrostis australiensis Mez. Repert.
Spec .Nov. Regni Veg. 17: 302 (1921).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae.
Tribe Poeae.
Common name:
Australian Bent.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: J.H. Maiden & W. Forsyth s.n., 1899,
Australia: New South Wales, Mt. Kosciusko (B; IT: US-75369 (fragm. ex B)).
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 (109), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia,
Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (170).
Illustrations:
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales, 4th edn (109).
Derivation:
Australia plus the Latin -ensis, denoting origin. From Australia.
Habit. Annual.
Culms erect, stature slender to delicate, 8–30 cm tall, 2 -noded. Mid-culm
internodes glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline or cauline. Leaf-sheaths
scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 1–2 mm long, erose, truncate or
obtuse. Leaf-blades aciculate, conduplicate, 1–5 cm long, 0.4–1.4 mm wide.
Leaf-blade surface scabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle pyramidal, 80(–150) cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate, laterally compressed, 2–3 mm
long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous, keeled,
1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, 2–2.7 mm long, membranous, keeled,
1-keeled, 1 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 1.7–2 mm long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Lemma surface glabrous.
Lemma apex 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: Snowfields. Tasmania: North East.
Notes. Endemic. S from the
Brindabella Ra., N.S.W., A.C.T., Vic. and Tas. In damp areas from 60 m to
alpine grasslands. Flowers Dec.-Feb.
