Ectrosia gulliveri F. Muell. Fragm.
8: 201 (1874).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Chloridoideae. Cynodonteae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia: inter fluvios Norman's et Gilbert's
river, T. Gulliver s.n..
Key references
(books and floras): [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (634),
[2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia.
Habit. Annual.
Culms erect or geniculately ascending, 10–55 cm tall, 2–4 -noded. Leaf-sheaths
glabrous on surface or hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat or
convolute, 5–12 cm long, 0.7–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous or
indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle 3–15 cm long, 1–4 cm wide,
contracted about primary branches.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1 or more flowered, with 1 fertile
floret (1–4), comprising 1–4 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the
apex, lanceolate or oblong, laterally compressed, 4–9 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper
glume lanceolate, 1.5–5 mm long, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1–3 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 3–6 mm long, keeled, 5–9 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented. Lemma
apex mucronate or awned. Palea 2 -nerved. Lodicules present. Anthers 3. Grain 1
mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Queensland.
Queensland:
Burke, Cook.
There are 2 varieties.
Spikelets usually 4–5.5 mm long; upper glume
2–3 mm long; second female-fertile lemma 2.8–3.4 mm long, awn 0.1–0.9 mm long 13a. var. gulliveri
Spikelets 6–9 mm long; upper glume 3.4–5 mm
long; second female-fertile lemma 4.3–6.1 mm long, awn 1.2–2.5 mm long 13b. var. squarrulosa.
Endemic.
var. gulliveri
Northern Qld, between 16°S and 20°S. Occurs on
gravelly, sandy, skeletal or solodized-solonetzic soils in damp places,
sometimes with Ectrosia leporina or Triodia pungens.
var. squarrulosa
Restricted to an inland area of about 300
km at the base of Cape York Penin., Qld. Known from sandy and skeletal soils,
from hilly country to salt flats, with shrubs and other grasses.
