Aristida behriana F.Muell. Trans & Proc. Vic. Inst. Advancem. Sci. 1: 44
(1855).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Aristidoideae. Aristideae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: LT: F. Mueller s.n., Australia: South
Australia: Murray River (K (photo, BRI); ILT: MEL). LT designated by Henrard, Meded.
Rijks-Herb. 54: 52 (1926).
Key references
(books and floras): [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (562),
[2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia, [2006]
J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (320),
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales (126).
Illustrations:
[2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of Australia 44B: Poaceae 3 (Fig.
18B), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia
(320, Fig. 251 & plate 11),
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales, 4th edn (126).
Derivation: L.
-ana, indicating connection. In honor of Hans Hermann Behr (1818–1904),
German-born, Australian botanist.
Habit.
Perennial. Culms 22–43 cm tall, 1 -noded. Mid-culm internodes glabrous. Lateral
branches simple. Leaf-sheaths scaberulous. Ligule a fringe of hairs, 0.3 mm
long. Leaf-blades straight, flat or conduplicate or involute or convolute,
10–25 cm long, 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle linear, 8–13.5 cm long, 4–10 cm
wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate, terete, 15–19.5 mm long.
Glumes.
Glumes similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous,
keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex
awned. Upper glume lanceolate, 15–19 mm long, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1
-nerved. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex entire, awned.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 7–12 mm long, without keel, 3 -nerved. Lemma apex awned, 3
-awned. Median (principal) awn without a column. Lateral lemma awns present.
Palea without keels. Anthers 3. Grain 6.6–8 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria.
South Australia:
Flinders Ranges, Eastern, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke
Peninsula, Southern Lofty. New South Wales: Northern Tablelands,
Central-Western Slopes, South-Western Slopes, North-Western Plains,
South-Western Plains, South Far Western Plains. Victoria: Grampians,
Midlands, Murray Mallee, Riverina, Wimmera.
Notes.
A. behriana differs from A. obscura by the denser panicles,
smooth lemmas and terete peduncles.
More arid parts of New
South Wales, Victoria and South Australia and a few records from the adjacent
coastal parts of South Australia. Grasslands and open woodlands on red loams,
sandy loams or gravelly loams. Flowering and fruiting all year.
