Neurachne lanigera S.T. Blake. Contr. Queensland Herb. 13: 10 (1972).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Panicoideae. Neurachneae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia occidentali, prope "Cunya", Speck
1201 (HT: CANB-72644).
Key references
(books and floras): [1981] M.Lazarides in J.Jessop (ed)., Flora of
Central Australia (484), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass,
Grasses of Australia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses
of South Australia (500).
Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (500, fig. 430).
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present, short. Culms erect, 15–25 cm tall, 5–10 -noded.
Mid-culm nodes pubescent or bearded. Leaf-sheaths smooth, hairy. Ligule a
fringe of hairs, 0.5–0.9 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform, involute, 2–12 cm long,
1–2.1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth or scabrous, indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a raceme. Panicle oblong, 1.5–3 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, 10–12 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
dissimilar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, cartilaginous,
much thinner on margins, without keels, 5(–7) -nerved. Lower glume surface
indumented. Lower glume apex muticous or mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate,
10–12 mm long, cartilaginous, 7 -nerved. Upper glume surface indumented. Upper
glume apex muticous or awned. Florets. Basal sterile florets 1, barren,
without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret 60–80 % of length of
spikelet, chartaceous, 7 -nerved.
Fertile lemma 6.5–7.8
mm long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Palea without keels. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia.
Western Australia:
Austin. South Australia: North-western, Lake Eyre.
Notes. In
acacia shrublands and arid hummock grasslands. Flowers Aug.-Sept.
