Eragrostis interrupta Beauv. Ess.
Agrost. 71,162,
175 (1812).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Chloridoideae. Cynodonteae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Poa interrupta
R. Br. 180 (810). non Lam (1791).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia:
Littora Novae Holladiae intra tropicum: 1802–1805, R. Brown 6280 Type
according to K. Domin 1915.
Key references
(books and floras): [1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus, [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora
of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (121), [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 (252).
Illustrations:
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western
Australia 1 Gramineae (125, Pl. 36),
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales, 4th edn (252).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect or prostrate or sprawling, 30–150 cm tall. Ligule a
fringe of hairs, 0.2–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades straight, flat or convolute, 35
cm long, 2–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle ovate, 24–60 cm long, contracted
about primary branches.
Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets (14–50), comprising 14–50 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at
the apex, linear or lanceolate, laterally compressed, 10–33 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar. Lower glume ovate, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper
glume ovate, 2 mm long, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 2.2–3.5 mm long, keeled, 3–5 -nerved. Lemma apex muticous. Lodicules
present. Anthers 3. Grain 0.6 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Tropical Asia and Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland,
New South Wales.
Western
Australia: Gardner.
Northern Territory:
Darwin & Gulf. Queensland: Burke,
Burnett, Cook, Moreton, North Kennedy, Port Curtis, South Kennedy, Wide Bay.
New South Wales: North Coast.
Notes.
Distinguishing characters include robust, spreading habit; high colouring;
coriaceous overlapping loose sheaths and long flat blades; elongated,
spiciform, interrupted panicle; cartilaginous to indurated glumes and lemmas;
unequal 3–5-nerved lemmas; unequal spinous hairs on keels of palea; trigonous,
white-striate, triangular-ovoid caryopsis with free pericarp.
Endemic;
occurs in coastal Qld. from the tip of Cape York in the N, S to near Byron Bay
in northern N.S.W. Also northern N.T. and W.A. Coastal, subcoastal and beach
sands and dunes.; flowers Mar.-May, July, Sept.-Jan.; fruits Mar.-May, July,
Sept.-Jan.
