Eragrostis sororia Domin. Biblioth.
Bot. 85: 399 (1915).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Chloridoideae. Cynodonteae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia:
Queensland: Sandhügel der Dividing Range
östlich von Jericho,
Feb 1910, Domin s.n..
Key references
(books and floras): [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 (256).
Illustrations:
[2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of Australia 44B: Poaceae 3
(Fig. 71G-H), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales, 4th edn (256).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect or sprawling, 20–70 cm tall. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on
surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs, 0.2–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades straight, flat
or involute, 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle linear or oblong, (3.5–)7–24 cm
long, 2–8 cm wide, contracted about primary branches.
Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets (5–38(-64)), comprising 5–38(–64) fertile floret(s), with diminished
florets at the apex, linear or lanceolate or oblong or ovate, laterally
compressed, 4–15(–32) mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper
glume lanceolate, 1.5–2.3 mm long, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 2–3 mm long, keeled, 3 -nerved. Lodicules present. Anthers 2.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Northern Territory, Queensland, New
South Wales.
Northern Territory: Darwin &
Gulf. Queensland: Burke, Burnett, Cook,
Darling Downs, Leichhardt, Maranoa, Mitchell, Moreton, North Kennedy, Port
Curtis, South Kennedy, Warrego, Wide
Bay. New
South Wales: North Coast, Central
Coast, Northern
Tablelands, North-Western Slopes, Central-Western Slopes, North-Western Plains.
Notes.
A polymorphic species which grades into E. elongata, producing plants
with a wide range of intermediate characters. In its typical condition,
distinguishing characters include rachilla fragile; florets falling entire;
lemmas cartilaginous to indurated, inflated, gibbous, often scaberulous-granular;
paleas pouched between keels; anthers two, linear, subterminally exserted;
caryopsis usually turgid, subacute at base, silvery-white striate or
reticulate; pericarp free on moistening; panicle usually spiciform with
subsessile spikelets.
Endemic;
extends from about Cooktown in Qld S to near Deniliquin in N.S.W. Also northern
N.T. Flat to undulating country with usually deep sands, clays, sandy loams and
podsolics associated with sandstone, granite or laterite; also alluvial soils
on river levees and banks, shallow tableland soils, and disturbed ground.;
flowers all year round.; fruits all year round.
