Brachyachne tenella (R. Br.) C. E.
Hubbard. Bull. Misc. Inform. 448 (1934).
Classification.
(GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Chloridoideae. Cynodonteae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Cynodon
tenellus R. Br., Prodr. 187 (1810).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: R. Brown 6239, Australia: Northern
Territory: Arnhem Land, Caledon Bay (BM; IT: E, K, US-865639 (fragm. ex BM)).
Key references
(books and floras): [1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus (187 as Cynodon
tenellus), [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (609 as Cynodon
tenellus), [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae
(212), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia.
Illustrations:
[1983] J.C.Tothill & J.B.Hacker, Grasses of Southern Queensland
(136), [2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of Australia 44B: Poaceae 3
(Fig. 50K-O).
Habit. Annual
or perennial. Stolons absent or present. Culms erect or geniculately ascending
or decumbent, 20–60 cm tall. Ligule a fringed membrane, a ciliolate membrane,
0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 5–10 cm long, 1–2 mm wide.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence digitate, with spicate branches.
Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, elliptic or oblong or obovate, laterally
compressed, 1.5–2.5 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume oblong, membranous,
keeled, 1-keeled, wingless, 1 -nerved. Upper glume oblong, 1.5–2.5 mm long,
membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, wingless, 1 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 1.2–1.5 mm long, keeled, 3 -nerved. Lemma apex muticous. Palea 2
-nerved. Anthers 3. Grain 1 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Tropical Asia and Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland.
Western Australia:
Gardner. Fortescue. Northern Territory: Darwin & Gulf, Victoria
River, Barkly Tableland. Queensland: Burke, Cook, Leichhardt, Mitchell,
North Kennedy, Port Curtis, South Kennedy.
Notes.
Distinguished by the slender spikes, relatively small spikelets, an acute
wingless keel on the glumes, minute obtuse callus, rather distant keels on the
palea, and a grain which is not compressed. The indumentum between the nerves
on the lemma is distinctive, although sometimes also occurring less markedly in
B. ambigua.
Endemic;
from the W.A. Kimberley region across the northern half of the N.T. to
Normanton in Qld, and in the eastern half of Qld in the drier inland regions;
In swampy areas and flood plains both inland and near the coast, sometimes in
water, usually on heavy soils, with other grasses, occasionally in woodland;
flowers Jan.-Mar. in the Kimberley.
