Poa crassicaudex Vickery. Contr.
New South Wales Natl Herb. 4: 233–234, t. XI (1970).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Poeae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia: South Australia: Hindmarsh Tiers: 10 Nov
1950, J.B. Cleland (HT: AD 95626061).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South
Australia (147), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A.
Poaceae 2.
Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (148, fig. 99).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms 40–90 cm tall, 3 -noded. Mid-culm internodes pubescent (below
nodes). Lateral branches simple. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths smooth,
hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane or a fringed membrane, a ciliolate membrane,
0.4–2(–3.5) mm long, abaxially hairy, truncate or obtuse or acute. Leaf-blades
flat or conduplicate or involute, 9–30 cm long, 0.75–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade
surface indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle elliptic, 8–24 cm long, with
spikelets clustered towards branch tips.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets (3–6), comprising 3–6 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the
apex, oblong, laterally compressed, 5–8 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar. Lower glume ovate, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 3 -nerved. Upper
glume ovate, 2.6–3 mm long, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 3 -nerved. Upper
glume surface asperulous.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 2–4 mm long, keeled, 5 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented.
Lodicules present. Anthers 3.
Continental Distribution:
Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: South Australia.
South Australia:
Flinders Ranges, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula,
Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South-eastern.
Notes.
Distinguishing characters include the relatively long thin ligule, glabrous
nodes, elongated yellow swollen basal internodes; hairy leaves.
Endemic. In eucalypt
woodlands. Flowers Oct.-Nov.
