Enteropogon unispiceus (F. Muell.) W. D.
Clayton. Kew Bull. 21: 108
(1967).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Chloridoideae. Cynodonteae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Chloris
unispicea F. Muell., Fragm. 7: 118 (1870).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia:
Queensland:
Port Curtis Distr., Herbert's Creek, Rockhampton, Bowman s.n. (HT: MEL;
IT: E, K, L, BR).
Recent synonyms:
Chloris unispiceus.
Key references
(books and floras): [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (611 as Chloris
unispiceus), [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 (243).
Illustrations:
[1983] J.C.Tothill & J.B.Hacker, Grasses of Southern Queensland
(156(15)), [2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of Australia 44B: Poaceae 3
(Fig. 49M-O), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales, 4th edn (243).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms stature slender to delicate, 20–51 cm tall. Lateral branches
branched. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform,
flat or involute or convolute, 3–10 cm long, 0.5–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade
surface scabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid or digitate, with spicate branches.
Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile. Fertile spikelets 1 or more flowered, with 1 fertile floret,
comprising 1 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the apex,
lanceolate, laterally compressed, 4–5 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous,
without keels, 1 -nerved. Lower glume apex muticous or mucronate. Upper glume
lanceolate, 3.1–5.5 mm long, membranous, without keels, 1 -nerved. Upper glume
apex mucronate or awned.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 4–5.2 mm long, keeled, 3 -nerved. Lemma apex entire, awned, 1
-awned. Median (principal) awn 6–10 mm long overall. Palea 2 -nerved.
Continental
Distribution: Temperate Asia, Australasia,
and Pacific.
Australian
Distribution: Queensland.
Queensland:
Burnett, Darling Downs, Leichhardt, Maranoa, Moreton, North Kennedy, Port
Curtis, South Kennedy, Wide
Bay, Cook.
Notes.
Enteropogon unispiceus differs from the similar E. paucispiceus
in having more culm nodes, usually fewer spikes, and shorter leaf blades,
callus and awn on the fertile floret. The slender compact habit, one or few
relatively short spikes, and usually smooth floret distinguish these two from
other Enteropogon species within the Australian group. Cheeseman's plant
from the Cook Islands (type of Chloris
cheesemani) has a somewhat turgid rather than concave grain, but otherwise
agrees with Australian specimens.
The
southern half of Qld, in near-coastal areas and on off-shore islands; Taiwan, Cook Islands.
Occurs on a variety of soils including humic, texture-contrast and stony, often
on slopes, in forests, woodlands and herblands.
