Neurachne alopecuroidea R. Br. Prodr. 196 (1810).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Panicoideae. Neurachneae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: Robert Brown 6142, Australia: Western
Australia: King George Sound (BM (photo, BRI)).
Key references
(books and floras): [1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus (197), [1878]
G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (507 as Neurachne alopecuroides),
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (271),
[2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia, [2002]
J.Wheeler, N.Marchant & M.Lewington, Flora of the South West (423), [2006]
J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (499).
Illustrations:
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (272,
Pl. 78), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South
Australia (500, fig. 429).
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present, short. Culms erect, 20–60 cm tall, 2–4 -noded.
Mid-culm nodes pubescent or bearded. Leaf-sheaths smooth, glabrous on surface.
Ligule a fringe of hairs, 0.4–0.8 mm long. Leaf-blades flat or involute, 4–16
cm long, 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, glabrous or indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a raceme. Panicle oblong or ovate, 1–2.5 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. 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, 8–12 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
dissimilar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, chartaceous or
cartilaginous, without keels, 5 -nerved. Lower glume surface indumented. Upper
glume lanceolate, 8–12 mm long, chartaceous or cartilaginous, 9–11 -nerved.
Upper glume surface indumented. Upper glume apex awned. Florets. Basal
sterile florets 1, barren, without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile
floret 60–70 % of length of spikelet, chartaceous, 7 -nerved.
Fertile lemma 4.9–6.8
mm long, without keel. Palea without keels. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria.
Western Australia:
Irwin, Drummond, Dale, Warren, Eyre, Roe, Avon, Coolgardie. South Australia:
Eastern, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern
Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South-eastern. Victoria: Grampians, Lowan
Mallee, Murray Mallee, Volcanic Plain, Wannon, Wimmera.
Notes.
In temperate heaths, mallee heaths, dry sclerophyll forests, temperate
sub-humid woodlands, and eucalypt shrublands. Flowers mostly Aug.-Dec
