Lachnagrostis scabra (P.Beauv)
Nees ex. Steud. Nomencl.
Bot. 2nd edn 1: 250 (1840).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae.
Tribe Poeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Agrostis rudis
Roem. & Schult., Syst. Veg. 2: 360 (1817).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: R. Brown s.n., Without locality (BM).
Recent synonyms: Agrostis rudis Roem.& Schult.
Key references
(books and floras): [1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus (171 as Agrostis
scabra), [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (583 as ?Deyeuxia
scabra), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia
(as L. rudis), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of
South Australia (2332), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley &
D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales (290), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora
of Australia,
Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (189 as subsp. scabra, 190 as subsp.
curviseta).
Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (233, fig. 178 as L. scabra), [2008]
S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales,
4th edn (290).
Habit. Annual.
Culms erect or geniculately ascending, 60–80 cm tall, 3–4 -noded. Leaf-sheaths
antrorsely scabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 1–4 mm long, lacerate,
obtuse. Leaf-blades linear, flat, 10–17 cm long, 3.5–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade
surface scabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle pyramidal, 12–25 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), with a barren rachilla extension, lanceolate, laterally compressed,
1.8–3 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous, keeled,
1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, 2 mm long, membranous, keeled,
1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume surface scabrous.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 1.5–2.3 mm long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Lemma surface glabrous.
Lemma apex dentate, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn subapical, 0.5–2 mm
long overall. Palea present. Lodicules present. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania.
South Australia: South-eastern. Victoria: Gippsland Plain, Otway Plain, Otway Range,
Wilsons
Promontory, Wannon. Tasmania: Central Highlands,
Midlands, East Coast, South West, Mt Field.
Notes. Endemic. In Tas.,
rare in Vic. from a few coastal sites, and S.A. In damp areas on margins of
forest from sea level to 1200 m altitude.
Infra-specific
taxa: subsp. scabra, subsp. curviseta.
Lemma awnless or with
a fine straight awn 0.1–0.7 mm long L. scabra subsp. scabra
Lemma awn 1–1.4 mm
long, curved to geniculate, occasionally absent L. sacbra subsp. curviseta
