Eragrostis schultzii Benth. Fl. Austral.
7: 646 (1878).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Chloridoideae. Cynodonteae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia:
Port Darwin, Schultz 81.
Key references
(books and floras): [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (646),
[2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia.
Habit.
Perennial. Culms 50–150 cm tall. Ligule a fringe of hairs, 0.1–0.2 mm long.
Leaf-blades curled or flexuous, flat or involute, 10–30 cm long, 3–8 mm wide.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle linear, 10–45 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets (9–34), comprising 9–34 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at
the apex, linear or lanceolate or oblong, laterally compressed, 5–15 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper
glume lanceolate, 1.5–2 mm long, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 1.5–2.3 mm long, keeled, 3 -nerved. Lemma apex muticous.
Lodicules present. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland.
Western
Australia: Gardner.
Northern Territory:
Darwin & Gulf. Queensland:
Burke, Cook, North Kennedy, South Kennedy, Burnett.
Notes.
Distinguishing characters include robust tussock-forming habit; long, flat,
curly, coriaceous blades; minute ligule; hairy collar; clustered often glaucous
spikelets with closely imbricate florets and subpersistent, stout, flexuose
rachilla; cartilaginous to indurated glumes and lemmas; unequal glumes; palea
with almost entirely scaberulous keels and narrow flaps.
Endemic;
distributed from Ord R. Dam area, W.A., throughout northern N.T. from Darwin to Pine Ck and then across the Gulf
of Carpentaria into Qld from Cape York Penin. S to Croyden. Often
in low-lying alluvial habitats (in or near lagoons, small streams, swamps,
lakes, drainage channels, waterfalls); in usually sandy or loam soils
associated with sandstone, quartzite, granite or laterite.; flowers all year
round but not recorded for Dec.; fruits all year round but not recorded for
Dec.
