Aristida granitica B.K.Simon. Austrobaileya 2: 91, fig. 2A (1984).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Aristidoideae. Aristideae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Queensland: North Kennedy District: Mt. Pring, 10
km W of Bowen, 18 Apr 1978, Simon 3423 (HT: BRI-257519).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia.
Illustrations:
[2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of Australia 44B: Poaceae 3 (Fig.
17A-B).
Derivation:
Eng. granite; L. -ica, belonging to. Growing on granitic soils.
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect, 75 cm tall. Mid-culm internodes glabrous. Lateral
branches sparsely branched or branched. Leaf-sheaths smooth, glabrous on
surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs, 0.3 mm long. Leaf-blades straight,
conduplicate or involute or convolute, 10–21 cm long, 1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade
surface scabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle elliptic, 7–19 cm long, 8 cm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate, laterally compressed, 12–13
mm long.
Glumes.
Glumes similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous,
keeled, 1-keeled, 3 -nerved. Lower glume surface glabrous. Upper glume
lanceolate, 12–13 mm long, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume
surface glabrous. Upper glume apex entire, muticous.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 8–9 mm long, without keel, 3 -nerved. Lemma apex awned, 3 -awned.
Median (principal) awn 34–36 mm long overall, with a twisted column. Column
12–14 mm long. Lateral lemma awns present. Palea without keels. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Queensland.
Queensland:
North Kennedy.
