Panicum mitchellii Benth. Fl.
Austral. 7: 489 (1878).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Panicoideae. Paniceae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: ST: P.A. O'Shanesy s.n., 1876, Australia:
Queensland: Rockhampton (L). ST: J. Dallachy s.n., 1868, Australia:
Queensland: Rockingham Bay (L).
Key references
(books and floras): [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (489),
[2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia.
Habit. Perennial. Rhizomes absent. Stolons absent. Culms erect, 100–200
cm tall, 4–8 -noded. Mid-culm internodes glabrous. Mid-culm nodes glabrous.
Lateral branches simple. Leaf-sheaths antrorsely scabrous, glabrous on surface
or hairy. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule a fringed membrane or a fringe of
hairs, a ciliate membrane, 0.8–1.5 mm long. Leaf-blades linear, 10–50 cm long,
6–14 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous, glabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle ovate, 20–40 cm long, evenly
furnished.
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, 2.5–3 mm long. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes.
Glumes. Glumes
thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, membranous, without keels, 3–5
-nerved. Lower glume apex muticous. Upper glume elliptic, 2.3–2.8 mm long,
membranous, without keels, 7 -nerved. Upper glume apex muticous or mucronate. Florets.
Basal sterile florets 1, barren, without significant palea. Lemma of lower
sterile floret 100 % of length of spikelet, membranous, 5–7 -nerved, muticous
or mucronate.
Fertile lemma 2–2.5 mm
long, without keel. Lemma apex muticous. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Queensland.
Queensland:
Cook, North Kennedy, South Kennedy, Port Curtis, Burnett.
Notes.
A robust erect perennial. An examination of the lectotype is needed before a
confident evaluation of the taxon is made.
In tropical and
subtropical rain forests and tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands.
Limited in distribution. Flowers May-Sept.
