Avellinia*
Parl.,. Pl. Nov. 59 (1842).
Derivation:. In
honour of Guilio Avellino (fl. 1841), Italian botanist.
Key references
(keys and floras):. C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae
62–63 (1952); M.Lazarides, Flora of Central Australia 434 (1981);
J.P.Jessop, Flora of South Australia 4: 1910 (1986); B.K.Simon, Key
to Australian Grasses 75 (1993); N.G.Walsh, Flora Victoria 2: 454
(1994); D.Sharp and B.K.Simon, AusGrass (2002); J.P.Jessop, Grasses
of South Australia 205 (2006); A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A:
Poaceae 2: 154 (2009).
W.D.Clayton &
S.A.Renvoize, Genera Graminum (1986), genus (syn. of Trisetaria).
Naturalised. 2
species, from Mediterranean. 1 species in Australia, WA, SA, and Vic.
Habit. Annual,
tufted. Leaf blades narrow. Ligule an unfringed membrane to a fringed membrane
(short, often hairy outside).
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence paniculate, open or contracted.
Spikelets.
Spikelets laterally compressed, more than 2 flowered, pedicelled; with naked
rachilla extension. Fertile spikelets laterally compressed, disarticulating
above glumes.
Glumes. Glumes
unequal, (the longer) long relative to adjacent lemmas, pointed, awnless,
keeled, similar. Lower glume 1 nerved. Upper glume 3 nerved.
Florets.
Fertile florets 2–4. Lemmas similar in texture to glumes, not becoming
indurated, entire at apex (but often splitting), awned, 3 nerved, not keeled.
Awns 1, dorsal, non-geniculate, much shorter than body of lemma. Palea
conspicuous and relatively short, deeply bifid, 2 nerved, 2 keeled. Lodicules
2. Stamens 3. Stigmas 2. Grain small. Hilum short. Embryo small. Endosperm
liquid.
Kranz Anatomy.
C3.
2n = 12.
Habitat.
Mesophytic, xerophytic.
Classification.
Pooideae; Poeae.
Types Species. A.
michelii (Savi) Parl.
Biogeographic
Element. Clifford & Simon 1981, Simon & Jacobs 1990: Naturalised.