Holcus annuus* Salzm. ex C.A.Mey. Verz.
Pfl. Casp. Meer. 17 (1831).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae.
Tribe Poeae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: T: Caspian Sea,
Asia/Europe.
Recent synonyms: H. setiglumis, H. setosus Trin., Mem. Acad. Imp. Sci. St.
Petersbourg, ser. 6, Sci. Math., Seconde Pt. Sci. Nat. 3: 87 (1839).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia
(224 as H. setosus), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses
of South Australia, [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia,
Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (140).
Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (226, fig. 170).
Habit. Annual
or perennial. Culms erect or geniculately ascending, stature slender to
delicate, 20–100 cm tall. Mid-culm nodes pubescent. Leaves cauline.
Leaf-sheaths hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane, obtuse. Leaf-blades 2–10 cm
long, 1–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle elliptic, 2–8 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1 or more flowered, with 1 fertile
floret, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the apex,
elliptic, laterally compressed, 3–5 mm long. Rhachilla internodes elongated
below proximal fertile floret.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, chartaceous,
keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Lower glume surface indumented. Lower glume apex
awned. Upper glume elliptic, 3–5 mm long, chartaceous, keeled, 1-keeled, 3
-nerved. Upper glume surface indumented. Upper glume apex awned.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 1.5–2 mm long, keeled, 3–5 -nerved. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, and Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: South Australia, Victoria.
South
Australia: Murray, Southern
Lofty, Kangaroo Island. Victoria:
Eastern Highlands, Midlands, Otway
Range, Volcanic Plain,
Wannon.
Notes.
Introduced. Currently restricted to Vic. where its range is considered to be
increasing, particularly through the drier Midlands
where it has become a weed of grass-seed crops. Native to the Mediterranean.
Flowers Nov.-Feb.