Polypogon tenellus R. Br. Prodr. 173
(1810). Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae.
Tribe Poeae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Austalia, Lewin Promontory: Coll?.
Key references
(books and floras): [1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus (175), [1878]
G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (547), [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of
Western Australia 1 Gramineae (142), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon,
AusGrass, Grasses of Australia, [2002] J.Wheeler, N.Marchant &
M.Lewington, Flora of the South West (432), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst,
F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia, [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora
of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (231).
Illustrations:
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (141,
Pl.42), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South
Australia (249, fig. 192), [2009].
A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2 (232, Fig.32).
Habit. Annual.
Culms erect, stature slender to delicate, 10–50 cm tall. Lateral branches
simple. Ligule an eciliate membrane, bilobed. Leaf-blades 3–15 cm long, 0.5–4
mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle lanceolate or oblong, 1.5–12 cm
long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, oblong, laterally compressed, 2.5–4.7 mm
long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate or ovate,
membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Lower glume surface indumented. Lower
glume apex awned. Upper glume lanceolate or ovate, 2.5–3.6 mm long, membranous,
keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume surface scabrous, indumented. Upper
glume apex entire, awned.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 2–2.5 mm long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Lemma apex entire, awned,
1 -awned. Median (principal) awn dorsal, 16–25 mm long overall, with a twisted
column. Palea 2 -nerved. Lodicules present. Anthers 1.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia.
Western Australia:
Drummond.
Notes. Endemic. Flowers
Oct.
