Deyeuxia frigida

Deyeuxia frigida F. Muell. ex Benth. Fl. Austral. 7: 583 (1878), p.p.

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

Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: ST: F. Mueller s.n., Australia: Victoria: Mount Buller ST: Gunn s.n., Australia: Tasmania: New Norfolk ST: Oldfield s.n., Australia: Tasmania.

Recent synonyms: D. accedens .

Key references (books and floras): [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (583), [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 (202), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (198).

Illustrations: [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn (202), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2 (196, Fig.27).

Habit. Perennial. Culms erect or geniculately ascending, stature robust to moderate, 90–150 cm tall, 5–6 -noded. Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Lateral branches simple. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 1–3 mm long, membranous, abaxially scaberulous, erose or lacerate, truncate or obtuse. Leaf-blades linear, flat, 10–20 cm long, 1.5–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.

Inflorescence. Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle 8–30 cm long.

Spikelets. Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), with a barren rachilla extension, lanceolate, laterally compressed, 4–5.5(–7) mm long.

Glumes. Glumes similar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous, much thinner on margins, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, 3–5.5 mm long, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume surface asperulous.

Florets. Fertile lemma 3–5 mm long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Lemma apex entire or erose, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn dorsal, 4–5 mm long overall, with a straight or slightly twisted column or with a twisted column. Lodicules present. Anthers 3.

Continental Distribution: Australasia.

Australian Distribution: New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania.

New South Wales: Southern Tablelands. Victoria: East Gippsland, Eastern Highlands, Snowfields. Tasmania: Central Highlands, Ben Lomond, East Coast, Mt Wellington.

Notes. Very similar to D. rodwayi.

Endemic. S from Sydney, N.S.W., A.C.T., Vic. and Tas. In montane forest, alpine woodland and grassland, often in rocky sites. Flowers Dec.-Apr.

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