Piptochaetium montevidense* (Spreng.)
Parodi. Revista Fac. Agron. Veterin. 7: 163 (1930).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Stipeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Caryochloa
montevidensis Spreng., Syst. Veg. 4(2): 30 (1827).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: F. Sellow s.n., no date, Uruguay:
Montevideo (B; IT: MO-2097072, US-865749 (fragm. ex B)).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae
2 (70).
Illustrations:
[2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2 (69,
Fig 10).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms 30–63 cm tall. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface or hairy.
Ligule an eciliate membrane, 1.5–2 mm long, membranous, truncate. Leaf-blades
filiform, conduplicate or involute or convolute, 5–15 cm long, 0.5–1 mm wide.
Leaf-blade surface glabrous or indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle linear, 2–10 cm long, 1–2 cm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, oblong, laterally compressed, 3–3.5 mm
long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, hyaline, without
keels, 5 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, 3–3.7 mm long, hyaline, without
keels, 3 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 1.5–2 mm long, without keel. Lemma apex entire, awned, 1 -awned.
Median (principal) awn 7–10 mm long overall. Palea 2 -nerved. Lodicules
present. Grain 0.6–0.7 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia and South America.
Australian
Distribution: Victoria.
Victoria:
Volcanic Plain, Gippsland Plain.
Notes. Known in Australia
from a single, recently discovered occurrence at Altona, Victoria. In grassland
with Themeda and Stipa. Flowers November.
