Amelichloa brachychaeta* (Godr.) Arriaga
& Barkworth. Sida 22: 147 (2006).
Classification.
(GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Stipeae.
Common name:
Espartillo.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Stipa
brachychaeta Godr., Mem. Sect. Sci. Acad. Sci. Montpellier 1: 450
(1853).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: Anon., 22 May 1848, France: du Port
Juvenal Cultivé au Jardin Botanique (MPU (fragm.); OM: BAA-2979, hojas a &
b (fragm.) de un probable ejemplar tipo). HT (probable).
Recent synonyms:
Achnatherum brachychaetum (Godr.) Barkworth, Jarava brachychaeta (Godr.)
Barkworth.
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia (as Achnatherum), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley &
D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales (116 as Achnatherum),
[2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (13
as Achnatherum), [1989] T.D.Stanley & E.Ross. Flora of South East
Queensland, Gramineae 3 (116).
Illustrations:
[2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australiia (as Achnatherum
brachychaetum), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales, 4th edn (116).
Derivation:
from the latin brachy (short) and chaeta (bristle).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect, 40–100 cm tall. Mid-culm internodes glabrous.
Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 0.1–0.5 mm long,
abaxially pilose, truncate. Leaf-blades filiform, flat or involute or
convolute, 8–35 cm long, 0.5–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous,
glabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle 10–25 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1 or more flowered, with 1 fertile
floret, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate,
terete, 6–8 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, hyaline, without
keels, 1–3 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, 5.5–8 mm long, hyaline, without
keels, 1–3 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 4–5.5 mm long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented.
Lemma apex lobed, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn 10–18 mm long
overall, with a straight or slightly twisted column. Column 2–6 mm long. Palea
2 -nerved, without keels. Lodicules present. Anthers 3. Grain 2–3 mm long
(x0.9–1mm).
Continental
Distribution: Australasia and South America.
Australian
Distribution: New South Wales.
New South Wales:
North-Western Slopes, Central-Western Slopes.
Notes.
This species was confused with, and known by the same name as, the next species
prior to the article by J.Everett & S.W.L.Jacobs, Telopea 4: 7–11
(1990).
Introduced
from South America, recorded from near Merriwa (CWS) and Quirindi (NWS), New
South Wales.