Hemarthria uncinata R. Br. Prodr. 207
(1810).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Panicoideae. Andropogoneae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: R. Brown 6160, Australia (BM
(photo, BI, K); IT: K, LE?).
Key references
(books and floras): [1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus (207 & as Hemarthria
compressa), [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (510 as Hemarthria
compressa), [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae
(306), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia,
[2002] J.Wheeler, N.Marchant & M.Lewington, Flora of the South West (419),
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia
(520), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New
South Wales (272).
Illustrations:
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western
Australia 1 Gramineae (305, Pl. 89),
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (521, Fig. 445 as var. uncinata),
[1984] N.T.Burbidge. rev. S.W.L.Jacobs, Australian Grasses (149).
Habit.
Perennial. Stolons present. Culms erect or prostrate, 20–100 cm tall. Mid-culm
nodes glabrous. Lateral branches sparsely branched or branched. Ligule a
fringed membrane, a ciliate membrane, 0.3 mm long. Leaf-blades flat or
conduplicate, 5–15 cm long, 1.5–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a rame. Rhachis fracturing into irregular segments.
Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile, 1 in the cluster. Companion spikelets pedicelled, 1 in the
cluster. Companion spikelets developed, male. Companion spikelet glumes muticous
or awned. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, the lower floret barren (rarely male),
the upper fertile, comprising 1 basal sterile florets, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, oblong, dorsally compressed, 5–10 mm
long.
Glumes.
Glumes dissimilar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong, herbaceous,
keeled, 2-keeled, winged on keel, winged narrowly, 5–7 -nerved. Lower glume
surface glabrous. Lower glume apex muticous or awned. Upper glume elliptic or
oblong, membranous, without keels, 1–3 -nerved. Upper glume surface glabrous. Florets.
Basal sterile florets 1, barren, without significant palea. Lemma of lower
sterile floret hyaline.
Fertile lemma without
keel, 0 -nerved. Palea present or absent. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South
Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, A.C.T.
Western
Australia: Irwin, Drummond, Menzies, Warren, Eyre. South
Australia: Eyre Peninsula, Murray,
Southern Lofty, Kangaroo
Island, South-eastern. Queensland: Burnett, Cook, Darling Downs,
Leichhardt, Moreton, North Kennedy, Port Curtis, Wide Bay.
New South Wales: North Coast, Central Coast, South Coast, Northern
Tablelands, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, North-Western Slopes,
Central-Western Slopes, South-Western Slopes. Victoria: East Gippsland,
Eastern Highlands, Gippsland Plain, Grampians, Lowan Mallee, Midlands, Murray
Mallee, Otway Plain, Otway Range, Wilsons Promontory, Riverina, Volcanic Plain,
Wannon, Wimmera. Tasmania: North West,
North East, West Coast, Midlands, East Coast,
South West.
Notes. Locally
abundant near the coast, in wet areas. From all Australian states except N.T.
Infra-specific taxa: var. uncinata, var. spathacea .
Leaf sheaths loose,
expanded, flattened and spathe-like H. uncinata var. spathacea
Leaf sheaths not as above H. uncinata var. uncinata
