Paspalidium spartellum S. T. Blake. Proc.
Roy. Soc. Queensland 62: 97 (1952).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Panicoideae. Paniceae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia: Queensland, S.T. Blake 9939 (HT:
BRI).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia.
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes absent. Culms erect, 50–115 cm tall, wiry, 5–8 -noded.
Mid-culm internodes hollow, glabrous. Lateral branches branched. Leaf-sheaths
smooth, glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs, 0.15 mm long.
Leaf-blades spreading or recurved, involute, 1–6 cm long, 0.1–4 mm wide.
Leaf-blade surface smooth or scabrous, glabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle of racemes. Racemes 4–6, appressed, 0.35–0.65
cm long, 2 mm wide, bearing 1–2(–3) fertile spikelets on each. Central
inflorescence axis 1.5–4 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, elliptic, laterally
compressed, 2.4–3 mm long.
Glumes.
Glumes similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, membranous,
without keels, 3–4 -nerved. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex
muticous. Upper glume ovate, 2–2.6 mm long, cartilaginous, without keels, 5–7
-nerved. Florets. Basal sterile florets 1, barren, without significant
palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret 100 % of length of spikelet,
cartilaginous, 7 -nerved.
Fertile lemma 2.5–3 mm
long, without keel. Lemma apex muticous. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Queensland.
Queensland:
North Kennedy, Mitchell.
Notes.
Distinct from P. gracile in the robust, cylindrical culm and the
muricate upper lemma.
Flowers Oct.-Apr.
