Eragrostis pergracilis S. T. Blake. Proc.
Roy. Soc. Queensland
59: 154 (1948).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Chloridoideae. Cynodonteae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: S.T. Blake 14084, 22 May 1939, Australia: Queensland: Warrego Dist.: Dynever Downs, in
mulga scrub on reddish very silty loam, about 500 ft (BRI; IT: L, US-2959129).
Key references
(books and floras): [1981] M.Lazarides in J.Jessop (ed)., Flora of
Central Australia (459), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass,
Grasses of Australia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses
of South Australia (378), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley &
D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales (255).
Illustrations:
[2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of Australia 44B: Poaceae 3
(Fig. 63A-B), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South
Australia (378, fig. 311), [2008]
S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales,
4th edn (255).
Habit. Annual
or perennial. Culms erect or decumbent or prostrate, stature slender to
delicate, 3–45 cm tall, 2–3 -noded. Lateral branches simple. Leaf-sheaths
glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs, 0.2–0.6 mm long. Leaf-blades
straight, filiform, involute, 1–5 cm long, 1–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface
glabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle of racemes. Panicle ovate, dense or loose,
3–12 cm long, 2–6 cm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets (12–73), comprising 12–73 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at
the apex, linear, laterally compressed or terete, 8.5–45 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar. Lower glume ovate, membranous, without keels or keeled, 1-keeled, 1
-nerved. Upper glume ovate, 1–1.4 mm long, membranous, without keels or keeled,
1-keeled, 1 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 1.5–2 mm long, keeled, 3 -nerved. Lemma apex entire or erose,
muticous. Lodicules present. Anthers 3. Grain 0.45–0.55 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia,
Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria.
Western Australia: Canning,
Fortescue, Carnarvon, Austin. Northern Territory:
Central Australia South. South
Australia: North-western, Lake Eyre, Gairdner-Torrens Basin,
Eastern. Queensland:
Gregory North, Maranoa, Warrego, Gregory South. New South Wales: North-Western
Plains. Victoria:
Grampians.
Notes.
Introduced to England
by way of wool shoddy.
Distinguishing characters include filiform culms,
leaves and spikelets; tight, short, leaf-sheaths abruptly wider than blades;
ciliate ligule; terete often curved closely flowered spikelets, with straight
flattened rachilla; smooth, often 2-lobed lemmas, with the lateral nerves
midway or closer to midnerve; hyaline paleas with mostly smooth keels and flaps
much narrower than body; dorsally flattened caryopsis.
Endemic; distribution is from near Meekatharra, W.A.,
across central Australia to about Charleville, Qld, then scattered S to
Balranald, N.S.W., Avon Plains Swamps Wildlife Reserve, NW Vic.; introduced in
England. On plains, stony tablelands, brackish lakes, and saline flats; in red,
brown or grey sands, sandy loams and clays, often in run-on areas; also on
river frontages, claypans, roadsides and in streamlines.; flowers all year
round but not recorded in Nov.; fruits all year round but not recorded in Nov.
