Iseilema vaginiflorum Domin. Biblioth.
Bot. 85: 281 (1915).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Panicoideae. Andropogoneae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia,
Hughenden: Domin .
Key references
(books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (352), [1981] M.Lazarides in J.Jessop (ed)., Flora of
Central Australia (492), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses
of South Australia (528), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley &
D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales (287).
Illustrations:
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western
Australia 1 Gramineae (347, Pl. 100),
[1984] N.T.Burbidge. rev. S.W.L.Jacobs, Australian Grasses (167), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst,
F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (528, fig. 450), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs,
R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn
(286).
Habit. Annual.
Culms erect or geniculately ascending, 45–75 cm tall. Ligule a fringed
membrane, a ciliolate membrane, 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades flat or
conduplicate, 10–20 cm long, 2.5–6 mm wide.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, composed of rames.
Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile, 1 in the cluster. Companion spikelets pedicelled, 2 in the
cluster. Basal sterile spikelets represented by a single scale or rudimentary,
4 in number. Companion spikelets developed, containing empty lemmas or male,
3–5 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,
lanceolate, dorsally compressed, 5.5–7 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
dissimilar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, coriaceous,
without keels, 8–10 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, coriaceous, 3 -nerved. Florets.
Basal sterile florets 1, barren, without significant palea. Lemma of lower
sterile floret hyaline, 0 -nerved. Fertile florets female.
Fertile lemma 4–5.5 mm
long, 1 -nerved. Lemma apex entire, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn
15–20(–23) mm long overall, with a twisted column. Column 6–9 mm long. Palea
absent. Anthers 3. Grain 2.5–3 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia,
Queensland, New South Wales.
Western Australia: Gardner, Fitzgerald,
Hall, Dampier. Fortescue, Carnarvon, Austin. Northern
Territory: Darwin & Gulf, Victoria River, Barkly Tableland, Central Australia
North, Central Australia South. South Australia: Lake Eyre, Gairdner-Torrens Basin.
Queensland:
Burke, Cook, Gregory North, Leichhardt, Maranoa, Mitchell, Moreton, North
Kennedy, Port Curtis, South Kennedy, Warrego, Gregory South. New South Wales: North-Western
Plains, North Far Western Plains.
Notes.
Grows in cracking clay soils in tropical and subtropical Australia. Flowers
Dec.--July and Sept.
