Panicum bombycinum B.K.Simon. Austrobaileya
3: 594 (1992).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Panicoideae. Paniceae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia: Queensland: South Kennedy Dist.: 27 km W
of Mirtna HS, 21.18.46S 145.57.47E, open savanna woodland, recently burned,
dominated by Eucalyptus whitei, with E. papuana and E. brachycarpa on sandy
soil, 6 Apr 1992, E. J. Thompson & B. K. Simon BUC 1418 (HT:
BRI-AQ560012; IT: AD, B, BRI, CANB, DNA, K, L, MEL, MO, NSW, PERTH, US).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia.
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect, 15–35 cm tall, 2–4 -noded. Lateral branches simple.
Leaf-sheaths hairy. Ligule a fringed membrane or a fringe of hairs, a ciliate
membrane, 1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades linear, flat or involute, 9–21 cm long, 2–4
mm wide. Leaf-blade surface indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle ovate, 6–12 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, ovate, dorsally
compressed, 3–3.5 mm long. Rhachilla internodes brief up to lowest fertile
floret.
Glumes. Glumes
dissimilar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, membranous, without
keels, 5–7 -nerved. Lower glume apex muticous. Upper glume ovate, 3–3.5 mm
long, membranous, without keels, 9(–11) -nerved. Florets. Basal sterile
florets 1, barren, with palea or without significant palea. Lemma of lower
sterile floret 100 % of length of spikelet, membranous, muticous.
Fertile lemma 2–2.3 mm
long, without keel. Lemma apex muticous. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Queensland.
Queensland:
Burke, Mitchell, South Kennedy.
Notes. Endemic