Agrostis propinqua

Agrostis propinqua S.W.L.Jacobs. Telopea
9:681(2001).

Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae.
Tribe Poeae.

Common name:
Winter Bent.

Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information
: New South Wales: Southern Tablelands: Diggers Creek
Valley, Snowy R. Hydro-Electric Authority, growing on dry mineral soil of road
embankment, 1954, M. Mueller 1900 (HT: NSW-506463).

Recent synonyms:
sp.E of AusGrass; sp. F of AusGrass.

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 (169).

Illustrations:
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales
, 4th edn (110).

Derivation:
from Latin propinquus (neighbourhood), a reflection of Vickery's
association of this species with A. hiemalis..

Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes absent or present, short. Culms erect or geniculately
ascending, 80 cm tall, 4 -noded. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 2–5 mm long,
lacerate. Leaf-blades flat or involute, 15 cm long, 1.5–4 mm wide.

Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle 10–35 cm long.

Spikelets.
Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), laterally
compressed, 1.5–2.5 mm long.

Florets.
Fertile lemma 1.25–2 mm long. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex dentate,
muticous. Palea absent. Anthers 3.

Continental
Distribution
: Australasia.

Australian
Distribution
: New South Wales, Victoria.

New South Wales:
Southern Tablelands. Victoria: Snowfields.

Notes. Known
widely as A. hiemalis in Australia. At one time Vickery considered
naming this a distinct species A. propinqua, but then placed it within
her concept of A. hiemalis. Her concept of the species was wider than
that used here, including some specimens now placed with A. bettyae. It
differs from A. scabra in having the spikelets more clustered towars the
end of the branches, the lower whorl of branches being more divided and shorter
spikelets (Jacobs 2001).

Endemic. In N.S.W., Vic. and Qld.
Often in damp or swampy areas. Flowers Nov.-Apr.

AVH 2011

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