Panicum larcomianum D.K.Hughes. Bull.
Misc. Inform. 326 (1923).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Panicoideae. Paniceae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: "Queensland: Mt. Larcom, Bick.", Bick
s.n..
Key references (books
and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia.
Habit. Perennial. Rhizomes absent. Stolons absent. Culms erect, 40–100 cm
tall, 4–8 -noded. Mid-culm internodes glabrous. Mid-culm nodes glabrous.
Lateral branches simple or sparsely branched. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface.
Ligule a fringed membrane, a ciliolate membrane, 0.7–1.3 mm long. Leaf-blades
filiform, flat or conduplicate, 9–35 cm long, 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface
smooth, glabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle lanceolate or ovate, 12–26 cm long,
evenly furnished or with spikelets clustered towards branch tips.
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, elliptic, dorsally
compressed, 2–2.7 mm long. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes.
Glumes. Glumes
thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume obovate, membranous, without keels, 1
-nerved. Lower glume apex muticous. Upper glume elliptic, 1.9–2.6 mm long,
membranous, without keels, 7–9 -nerved. Florets. Basal sterile florets
1, barren, with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret 100 % of length of
spikelet, membranous, 7–9 -nerved, muticous.
Fertile lemma 1.6–2 mm
long, without keel. Lemma apex muticous. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Queensland.
Queensland:
Burnett, Darling Downs, Leichhardt, Mitchell, Moreton, North Kennedy, Port
Curtis, South Kennedy, Wide Bay, Cook, Burke.
Notes.
Panicum larcomianum is similar to P. laevinode and future
research may show that it is best treated as a variety of this taxon. The
species have in common the slender primary branches and numerous spikelet
features. Generally, P. larcomianum has smaller spikelets, filiform leaf
blades and a distinctly perennial habit.
In tropical and
subtropical wet sclerophyll forests, Brigalow forests, tropical and subtropical
sub-humid woodlands, and semi-arid shrub woodlands. Flowers Sept.-May.
