Hierochloë submutica F. Muell. Trans.
& Proc. Victorian Inst. Advancem. Sci. 48 (1855). Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Poeae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: Mueller s.n., Australia:
Victoria:
Cobberas Mts (MEL; IT: K).
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 (274), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2
(142).
Illustrations:
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales, 4th edn (274), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A:
Poaceae 2 (148, Fig.22).
Habit. Perennial.
Rhizomes present, short. Culms erect, 30–70 cm tall, 4–6 -noded. Mid-culm nodes
glabrous. Lateral branches simple. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 4–9 mm long,
erose, truncate or acute. Leaf-blades 5–25 cm long, 4–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade
surface scaberulous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle lanceolate, 5–18 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1 or more flowered, with 1 fertile
floret, comprising 2 basal sterile florets, comprising 1 fertile floret(s),
without rachilla extension, elliptic or oblong or ovate, laterally compressed,
3.9–6 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma, shiny. Lower glume ovate, hyaline, keeled,
1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume ovate, 3.8–6 mm long, hyaline, keeled, 1-keeled,
3 -nerved. Florets. Basal sterile florets 2 or more, male, with palea.
Lemma of lower sterile floret 100 % of length of spikelet, chartaceous,
1-keeled, 5 -nerved, muticous or mucronate. Lemma of upper sterile floret
entire.
Fertile lemma 3.2–3.5
mm long, without keel, 5–7 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented. Lemma apex
muticous. Palea 1 -nerved, 1-keeled. Lodicules present. Anthers 2 (bisexual) or
3 (male).
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania.
New South Wales: Southern Tablelands.
Victoria:
Snowfields. Tasmania:
Mt Field.
Notes. Endemic.
S from Kosciusko, N.S.W. Rare, confined to boggy sites usually above the tree
line and in alpine herbfields. Flowers Dec.-Feb.
