Piptatherum
miliaceum* (L.) Coss. Notes
Pl. Crit. 129 (1851).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae.
Tribe Stipeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Agrostis
miliacea L., Sp. Pl. 1: 61 (1753).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: van Royen s.n., Europe (L; T:
LINN-84.2).
Recent synonyms:
Oryzopsis miliacea.
Key references
(books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (183 as Oryzopsis miliacea), [2002] D.Sharp &
B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia, [2002] J.Wheeler, N.Marchant
& M.Lewington, Flora of the South West (429), [2006] J.Jessop,
G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (110), [2008]
S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales
(342), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2
(68).
Illustrations:
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (184,
Pl.53 as Oryzopsis miliacea), [1984] N.T.Burbidge. rev. S.W.L.Jacobs, Australian
Grasses (193), [2006] J.Jessop,
G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (111, Fig. 72), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs,
R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn
(342).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect or geniculately ascending, 100–150 cm tall. Leaf-sheaths
smooth. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 2–4 mm long, membranous, truncate or
obtuse. Leaf-blades flat or convolute, 15–30 cm long, 5–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade
surface scaberulous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle ovate, 15–40 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, elliptic, dorsally compressed, 3 mm
long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic, membranous, without
keels, 3 -nerved. Upper glume elliptic, 3–3.5 mm long, membranous, without
keels, 3 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 2.5 mm long, without keel, 3 -nerved. Lemma surface glabrous.
Lemma apex awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn 2–5 mm long overall, with a
straight or slightly twisted column or with a twisted column. Palea 2 -nerved,
without keels.
Continental
Distribution: Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, Australasia, North America,
and South America.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria,
Tasmania.
Western Australia:
Drummond, Dale. South Australia: Flinders Ranges, Eyre Peninsula,
Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island,
South-eastern. New South Wales: Central Coast, Northern Tablelands,
Southern Tablelands, Central-Western Slopes, South-Western Slopes,
South-Western Plains, North Far Western Plains, South Far Western Plains. Victoria:
Gippsland Plain, Lowan Mallee, Midlands, Murray Mallee, Riverina, Volcanic
Plain, Wannon, Wimmera. Tasmania: North West, Midlands, East Coast.
Notes. Widely distributed
in the southern half of Australia; used to stabilise mine dumps in moist and
semi-arid regions, and frequently spreading from such plantings.
