Paractaenum novae-hollandiae Beauv. Ess.
Agrostogr. 47, t. 10, f. 6. 1812.
Classification.
(GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Panicoideae. Paniceae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: Leschenault s.n., Australia: Iles
Steriles [probably Shark's Bay], 1802 (BM).
Key references
(books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (246), [1981] M.Lazarides in J.Jessop (ed)., Flora of Central
Australia (482), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South
Australia (465), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales (319).
Illustrations:
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (247,
Pl. 73), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South
Australia (465, Fig. 399 as subsp. reversum),
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales, 4th edn (319).
Habit. Annual.
Culms erect or decumbent, 20–60 cm tall. Ligule a fringed membrane, a ciliolate
membrane, 0.8–3 mm long. Leaf-blades 3–19 cm long, 2–8 mm wide.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle of racemes. Racemes 3–12, deflexed or
spreading, 1–6 cm long, bearing 1–4 fertile spikelets on each. Central
inflorescence axis 5–24 cm long. Rhachis deciduous from axis.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled, 1 in the cluster. Involucre composed of bristles. 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, oblong, dorsally compressed, 2.6–6.1 mm long. Rhachilla
internodes brief up to lowest fertile floret.
Glumes. Glumes
dissimilar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, membranous, without
keels, 3–7 -nerved. Upper glume ovate, 2.6–6.1 mm long, membranous, without
keels, 11–13 -nerved. Florets. Basal sterile florets 1, barren, with
palea or without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret 100 % of
length of spikelet, membranous, 9–13 -nerved.
Fertile lemma 2.4–5.8
mm long, without keel. Lodicules present. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia,
Queensland, New South Wales.
Western Australia:
Keartland, Helms, Fortescue, Carnarvon. Irwin. Northern Territory:
Central Australia North, Central Australia South. South Australia:
North-western, Lake Eyre, Nullabor, Gairdner-Torrens Basin, Flinders Ranges,
Eastern, Eyre Peninsula. Queensland: Gregory North, Gregory South,
Warrego. New South Wales: North Far Western Plains.
