Eragrostis uvida M. Lazarides.
Aust. Syst.
Bot. 10: 164
(1997).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Chloridoideae. Cynodonteae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia, Cloncurry to Burketown: Jacobs 1288
(NSW holo, CANB).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia.
Illustrations:
[2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of Australia 44B: Poaceae 3 (Fig.
65L-M).
Habit. Annual
or perennial. Culms erect or geniculately ascending or decumbent, 47–80(–120)
cm tall, 2–3 -noded. Lateral branches sparsely branched. Ligule a fringed
membrane, a ciliate membrane, 0.3–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades straight, flat or
convolute, 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, glabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle linear, 18–37 cm long, 1–5 cm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets (11–25), comprising 11–25 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at
the apex, linear, laterally compressed, 3.5–8 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar. Lower glume oblong or ovate, membranous, without keels or keeled,
1-keeled, 0–1 -nerved. Upper glume oblong or ovate, 0.4–0.6 mm long, membranous,
keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 0.7–1 mm long, keeled, 3 -nerved. Lemma apex muticous or
mucronate. Palea 2 -nerved. Palea apex dentate. Anthers 2. Grain 0.4–0.5 mm
long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Northern Territory, Queensland.
Northern Territory:
Darwin & Gulf. Queensland: Burke.
Notes.
Distinguishing characters include compact leafy annual with thin leaves,
glabrous orifice and acute blades; ligule a fimbriate membrane; spiciform often
whorled panicle; loosely flowered spikelet, with fragile rachilla; florets
falling entire; 3-lobed palea, with short ribbed smooth keels; two minute
anthers, and turgid, shiny caryopsis.
Endemic;
occurs on the Calvert R. in the Gulf of Carpentaria, N.T. and between Burketown
and Cloncurry, Qld. On clayey loam roadside and margins of seasonal
watercourse.; flowers Apr.; fruits Apr.
