Chloris ventricosa R. Br. Prodr. 186 (1810).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Chloridoideae. Cynodonteae.
Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: HT: Brown 6242, Australia: New South Wales: Richmond (BM; IT: K, E).
Key references (books and floras): [1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus (186), [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (613), [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 (184).
Illustrations: [1983] J.C.Tothill & J.B.Hacker, Grasses of Southern Queensland (156(8)), [2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of Australia 44B: Poaceae 3 (Fig. 41D, Fig. 42A), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn (184).
Habit. Perennial. Stolons absent or present. Culms erect, 50–100 cm tall. Leaf-sheaths smooth or scaberulous, glabrous on surface or hairy. Ligule a fringed membrane, a ciliate membrane, 0.4–0.6 mm long. Leaf-blades 4–20 cm long, 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth or scaberulous, glabrous or indumented.
Inflorescence. Inflorescence digitate, with spicate branches.
Spikelets. Spikelets sessile. Fertile spikelets 1 or more flowered, with 1 fertile floret (1–3), comprising 1–3 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the apex, cuneate, laterally compressed, 2–5.4 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate or ovate, scarious, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate or ovate, 2.5–4.1 mm long, scarious, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume surface smooth or scabrous.
Florets. Fertile lemma 2–5.4 mm long, keeled, 3 -nerved. Lemma apex entire or lobed, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn subapical, 1–11 mm long overall. Lodicules present. Anthers 3. Grain 1.5–3 mm long.
Continental Distribution: Australasia.
Australian Distribution: South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria.
South Australia: Lake Eyre. Queensland: Burke, Burnett, Darling Downs, Leichhardt, Maranoa, Mitchell, Moreton, North Kennedy, Port Curtis, South Kennedy, Warrego, Wide Bay. New South Wales: North Coast, Central Coast, South Coast, Northern Tablelands, North-Western Slopes, Central-Western Slopes, North-Western Plains. Victoria: East Gippsland, Riverina.
Notes. Endemic; distributed through coastal and central-western areas of eastern Australia from Vic. to Townsville; occurs in North America and Europe as an introduction or casual weed. Recorded mostly from duplex soils of light to medium textured A horizon, including yellow podsolics, but also from clay loams in brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) country, in belah, box, sandalwood and wilga scrubs and woodlands with other grasses or monsoon or eucalypt forest.
