Ischaemum albovillosum B.K. Simon. Austrobaileya 3: 86 (1989).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Panicoideae. Andropogoneae.
Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: Australia: Western Australia: Hamersley Railway line between Dampier and Mount Tom Price, Oct 1968, Campion s.n. (HT: PERTH-00349925 (photo, BRI)).
Key references (books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia.
Habit. Perennial. Culms 20–40 cm tall. Mid-culm nodes bearded. Lateral branches simple. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 1 mm long. Leaf-blades 5–12 cm long, 2–5 mm wide.
Inflorescence. Inflorescence digitate, with ramose branches. Rhachis fragile at the nodes.
Spikelets. Spikelets sessile, 1 in the cluster. Companion spikelets pedicelled, 1 in the cluster. Companion spikelets developed, male, 10 mm long. Companion spikelet glumes muticous. 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, elliptic, dorsally compressed, 10 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes dissimilar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic, coriaceous, keeled, 2-keeled, wingless, 9 -nerved. Lower glume surface glabrous. Upper glume lanceolate, 9 mm long, coriaceous, keeled, 1-keeled, 5 -nerved. Florets. Basal sterile florets 1, barren, without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret hyaline or membranous.
Fertile lemma 5 mm long, without keel. Lemma apex lobed, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn from a sinus, 20–30 mm long overall, with a twisted column. Palea absent. Anthers 3. Grain 2.5 mm long.
Continental Distribution: Australasia.
Australian Distribution: Western Australia.
Western Australia: Fortescue.
Notes. Only three collections from the Pilbara region of W.A.
