Echinopogon mckiei C. E. Hubbard. Hook. Ic. Pl. ser 5, 3, subt. 3261: 9 (1935). Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Poeae.
Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: Australia: New South Wales: Clarke County: Yellow Gap, Oban Road, N.E. of Guyra, soil of granite formation, Dec 1931, McKie 729.
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 (231), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (223, 224 as var. caespitosus, var. cunninghamii).
Illustrations: [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn (231), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2 (225, Fig.31).
Habit. Perennial. Rhizomes present, elongated. Culms erect or geniculately ascending, 5–50 cm tall, 2–5 -noded. Lateral branches simple. Leaf-sheaths retrorsely scabrous, glabrous on surface or hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 1.5 mm long, truncate. Leaf-blades 2–12 cm long, 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth or scaberulous, indumented.
Inflorescence. Inflorescence solid, a panicle. Panicle oblong, 0.5–2 cm long, 0.6–1.2 cm wide.
Spikelets. Spikelets sessile or pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), with a barren rachilla extension, oblong or cuneate, laterally compressed, 2–3.5 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate or elliptic or ovate, membranous or chartaceous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Lower glume surface indumented. Upper glume lanceolate or elliptic or oblong, 2.2–3.5 mm long, membranous or chartaceous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume surface indumented.
Florets. Fertile lemma 2.2–3.5 mm long, keeled, 5–7 -nerved. Lemma apex dentate, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn apical or subapical or from a sinus, 1–3 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns absent. Palea 2 -nerved. Anthers 3. Grain 1.5 mm long.
Continental Distribution: Australasia.
Australian Distribution: New South Wales.
New South Wales: Northern Tablelands, Southern Tablelands.
Notes. Endemic. In sclerophyll forest or grassland in the northern and southern Tablelands, N.S.W. Flowers Jan.-Feb.
