Neurachne munroi

Neurachne munroi (F.
Muell.) F. Muell. Fragm.8:200(1874).

Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Panicoideae. Neurachneae.

Basionym and/or
Replacement Name:
 Panicum munroi
F. Muell., Fragm. 5: 204 (1867).

Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information
: HT: H. Beckler s.n., Australia: New South
Wales: Goginga Mountains, Scrope Range, (MEL; IT: BRI, K).

Key references
(books and floras):
[1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (508),
[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),
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales
(306).

Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia  (501, Fig. 431), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs,
R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn
(306).

Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present, short. Culms erect, 15–50 cm tall, 5–10 -noded.
Mid-culm nodes pubescent or bearded. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a
fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat or involute, 5–10 cm long, 1.5–2.5 mm wide.

Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a raceme. Panicle linear, 4 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, 6 mm long.

Glumes.
Glumes dissimilar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate,
chartaceous, without keels, 3 -nerved. Lower glume surface glabrous. Upper
glume lanceolate, 6 mm long, coriaceous, 5–7 -nerved. Upper glume surface
indumented. Florets. Basal sterile florets 1, barren, without
significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret 66 % of length of spikelet,
chartaceous, 3 -nerved.

Fertile lemma 4 mm
long, without keel, 3 -nerved. Palea 2 -nerved, without keels. Anthers 3.

Continental
Distribution
: Australasia.

Australian
Distribution
: Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia,
Queensland, New South Wales.

Western Australia:
Keartland, Austin. Avon. Northern Territory: Central Australia North,
Central Australia South. South Australia: North-western, Lake Eyre,
Nullabor, Gairdner-Torrens Basin, Flinders Ranges. Queensland: Burke,
Gregory North, Gregory South, Mitchell, Warrego. New South Wales:
North-Western Plains, South-Western Plains, North Far Western Plains, South Far
Western Plains.

Notes. In arid
and semi-arid low woodlands, shrub steppe shrublands, acacia shrublands, arid
tussock grasslands, and arid hummock grasslands. Flowers sporadically
throughout the year but mostly May-Oct.

AVH 2011

 

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith