Briza subaristata*

Briza subaristata* Lam. Encycl. 1: 187 (1791).

Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae.
Tribe Poeae.

Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information
: HT: P. Commerson s.n., no date, Uruguay:
Montevideo (P-LAM; IT: CP, LE-TRIN-2555.01, (fragm. & Illustr.), R,
US-865549 (fragm. ex P-LAM)).

Recent synonyms:
B. triloba.

Key references
(books and floras):
[2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia
, [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales
(172), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia,
Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (342).

Illustrations:
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales
, 4th edn (172), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A:
Poaceae 2 (341, Fig. 45).

Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect, 28–60 cm tall, 2 -noded. Mid-culm internodes hollow.
Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate
membrane, 0.5–3 mm long. Leaf-blades flat or involute, 6–25 cm long, 1–4 mm
wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle lanceolate or elliptic or oblong,
2.5–15 cm long.

Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile or pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least
2 fertile florets (6–11), comprising 6–11 fertile floret(s), with diminished
florets at the apex, ovate or orbicular, laterally compressed or terete,
1.75–5.5 mm long.

Glumes. Glumes
similar. Lower glume orbicular or obovate, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 3–7
-nerved. Lower glume surface indumented. Upper glume elliptic or orbicular,
1.5–3.3 mm long, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 3–5 -nerved. Upper glume surface
indumented.

Florets.
Fertile lemma 1.8–5 mm long, keeled, winged on margins, 5–7 -nerved. Lemma apex
entire or dentate, muticous or mucronate or awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal)
awn from a sinus, 0.5–1 mm long overall. Palea 2 -nerved. Lodicules present.
Anthers 1. Grain 1–1.5 mm long.

Continental
Distribution
: Africa, Australasia, North America, and South America.

Australian
Distribution
: New South Wales.

New South Wales:
North Coast, Central Coast, Southern Tablelands.

Notes.
Introduced. Native of S America. Grows in long-established low-fertile soils.

 

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