Microchloa indica (L. f.) Beauv. Ess. Agrostogr. 115, t. 20, fig. 8 (1812). Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Chloridoideae. Cynodonteae.
Basionym and/or Replacement Name: Nardus indica L. f. Suppl. Pl., 105 (1781)[1782].
Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: India: Tranquebaria, König s.n. (T: LINN-73.8).
Key references (books and floras): [1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus (208 as M. setacea), [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (608 as Microchloa setacea), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia.
Illustrations: [2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of Australia 44B: Poaceae 3 (Fig. 53M-Q).
Habit. Annual. Culms erect or decumbent, 5–10 cm tall, wiry, 2–8 -noded. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule a fringed membrane, a ciliolate membrane, 0.2–0.3 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform or linear, flat or conduplicate, 1–8(–11) cm long, 0.3–1.8 mm wide.
Inflorescence. Inflorescence solid, a spike.
Spikelets. Spikelets sessile. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate, dorsally compressed, 1.5–3 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes similar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume elliptic, 1.5–2.9 mm long, membranous, without keels, 1 -nerved.
Florets. Fertile lemma 1–1.75 mm long, keeled, 3 -nerved. Lemma apex mucronate. Palea 2 -nerved. Anthers 3. Grain 0.9–1.25 mm long.
Continental Distribution: Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia, North America, and South America.
Australian Distribution: Northern Territory.
Northern Territory: Darwin & Gulf.
Notes. Microchloa indica differs from other members of the genus chiefly by its annual (not perennial) duration and usually also by its erect (not prostrate and mat-forming) habit.
Known only from two distant coastal localities in the N.T; occurs in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Recorded from gravelly lateritic and sandy soils, with perennial grasses, in open eucalypt forest or woodland.
