Eragrostis microcarpa Vickery. Contr.
New South Wales
Natl. Herb. 1: 339 (1950).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Chloridoideae. Cynodonteae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: New South
Wales: Bourke, 22 Dec 1934, J. Vickery 9208
(HT: NSW).
Key references
(books and floras): [1981] M.Lazarides in J.Jessop (ed)., Flora of
Central Australia (460), [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 (254).
Illustrations:
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales, 4th edn (254).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect, stature slender to delicate, 20–60 cm tall, 3–4 -noded.
Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of
hairs, 0.4–0.7 mm long. Leaf-blades straight or curved or flexuous, involute or
convolute, 5–10 cm long, 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous, indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle pyramidal, 12–23 cm long, 12–15 cm
wide, contracted about primary branches.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets (6–14), comprising 6–14 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at
the apex, linear, laterally compressed, 3–6 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar. Lower glume oblong, hyaline, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume
oblong, 1–1.5 mm long, hyaline, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume apex
erose.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 1–1.5 mm long, keeled, 3 -nerved. Lemma apex muticous. Lodicules
present. Anthers 3. Grain 0.4 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Queensland, New South Wales.
Queensland: Gregory North, Maranoa,
Mitchell, South Kennedy, Warrego, North Kennedy, Gregory South. New South Wales:
North-Western Plains, North Far Western Plains.
Notes.
Distinguishing characters include loose to open pyramidal panicle; hyaline
glumes, lemmas and paleas; panicle branches covered with spikelets; palea keels
almost smooth; anthers minute, reniform, exserted subterminally.
Endemic;
occurs in central Qld from Blackall S to near Louth in NW N.S.W. In red-brown
loams, red and grey sands, and grey clays; on seasonally flooded run-on areas,
the fringes of lakes, claypans and billabongs, and on grassland plains.;
flowers all year round but not recorded for June or Dec.; fruits all year round
but not recorded for June or Dec.
