Poa drummondiana Nees. Lond. J. Bot. 2: 418 (1843).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Poeae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia: "Novae Hollandiae": ad flumen
Cygnorum, Drummond (HT: CGE).
Key references
(books and floras): [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (653 as Poa
nodosa), [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae
(107), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia,
[2002] J.Wheeler, N.Marchant & M.Lewington, Flora of the South West (430),
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia
(148), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2
(313).
Illustrations:
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (109,
Pl. 31), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South
Australia (148, fig. 100), [2009].
A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2 (308, Fig. 41,
314, Fig. 42).
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present, short. Culms erect or geniculately ascending,
18–91 cm tall, 2–3 -noded. Mid-culm internodes glabrous. Mid-culm nodes
glabrous. Lateral branches simple. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths smooth,
glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 1.7–7.2 mm long, abaxially
glabrous or abaxially scaberulous or abaxially hairy, truncate or obtuse or
acute. Leaf-blades flat or conduplicate or involute, 8–30 cm long, 1.5–4.3 mm
wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle lanceolate or pyramidal, 5–21 cm
long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets ((2-)4–9(-14)), comprising (2–)4–9(–14) fertile floret(s), with
diminished florets at the apex, oblong, laterally compressed, 3.4–7.4(–14.5) mm
long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar. Lower glume oblong, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 3(–5) -nerved. Upper
glume oblong, 2.6–3.6(–7.7) mm long, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 3–5 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 2.8–4.3(–7.2) mm long, keeled, 5(–7) -nerved. Lodicules present.
Anthers 3. Grain 5 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria.
Western Australia:
Drummond. South Australia: Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke
Peninsula. Victoria: Lowan Mallee, Murray Mallee.
Notes. Endemic.
Across southern mainland Australia Dunes and margins of clay-pans in mallee-scrub
and low woodland. Flowers Oct. Fruits Nov.
