Arthragrostis deschampsioides

Arthragrostis deschampsioides
(Domin) M.Lazarides. Nuytsia 5: 286 (1985).

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

Basionym and/or
Replacement Name:
 Panicum
deschampsioides
.

Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information
: HT: Domin 1208, Feb 1910, Australia:
Queensland: North Kennedy District (PR). Castle Hill, Townsville.

Recent synonyms:
Panicum deschampsoides Domin.

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

Derivation: Gk.
-oides resembling. Resembling Deschampsia..

Habit. Annual.
Culms 17–60 cm tall, 4 -noded. Ligule a fringed membrane, a ciliolate membrane,
0.3–0.8 mm long. Leaf-blades linear, 2–10 cm long, 1–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade
surface indumented.

Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle elliptic, 5–25 cm long, 2–5 cm wide.

Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. 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, lanceolate or
ovate, dorsally compressed, 4–5 mm long. Rhachilla internodes elongated below
proximal fertile floret.

Glumes.
Glumes dissimilar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, membranous,
without keels, 7 -nerved. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex
muticous or awned. Upper glume lanceolate, 3–4.5 mm long, membranous, without
keels, 7–11 -nerved. Upper glume surface scabrous. Upper glume apex muticous or
awned. Florets. Basal sterile florets 1, barren, without significant
palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret 100 % of length of spikelet, membranous, 9
-nerved, muticous or awned.

Fertile lemma 1.5–2.1
mm long, without keel, 5–7 -nerved. Anthers 3. Grain 1.2–1.4 mm long.

Continental
Distribution
: Australasia.

Australian
Distribution
: Queensland.

Queensland:
Cook, North Kennedy.

Notes. In
tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands. A distinctive and rare species of
the North Kennedy district of Qld. Flowers Feb.-July. 

Similar to A.
clarksoniana
with the upper glume and lower lemma acuminate or with an
apical cusp, and differing by having glabrous and unequal glumes.

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