Andropogon gayanus*

Andropogon gayanus* Kunth. Enum. Pl. 1: 491 (1833).

Classification.
(GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Panicoideae. Andropogoneae.

Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information
: IT: Gay s.n., Senegal (K).

Key references
(books and floras):
[2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia
.

Derivation: L.
-ana, indicating connection. In honor of Claude Gay (1800–1873) French
botanist.

Habit.
Perennial. Culms 150–250 cm tall. Lateral branches simple. Ligule an eciliate
membrane. Leaf-blades 30–60 cm long, 4–20 mm wide.

Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, composed of rames. Rhachis fragile at the nodes.

Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile, 1 in the cluster. Companion spikelets pedicelled, 1 in the
cluster. Companion spikelets developed, male, 5–8 mm long. Companion spikelet
glumes awned. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, the lower floret barren (rarely
male), the upper fertile, comprising 1 basal sterile florets, comprising 1
fertile floret(s), without rachilla extension, oblong, dorsally compressed, 5–8
mm long.

Glumes.
Glumes dissimilar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong, coriaceous,
keeled, 2-keeled. Lower glume surface glabrous. Upper glume lanceolate,
chartaceous, keeled, 1-keeled. Upper glume apex muticous or mucronate. Florets.
Basal sterile florets 1, barren, without significant palea. Lemma of lower
sterile floret hyaline, 2 -nerved.

Fertile lemma without
keel. Lemma apex lobed, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn from a sinus,
10–30 mm long overall, with a twisted column.

Continental
Distribution
: Africa, Tropical Asia, Australasia, and South America.

Australian
Distribution
: Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland.

Western Australia:
Gardner. Eucla. Northern Territory: Darwin & Gulf. Queensland:
Cook.

Notes. Tropical
Africa. Has been cultivated in W.A., N.S.W., N.T. and Qld; naturalised in N.T.
and Qld in several localities. Flowers Oct.--July.

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