Rostraria

Rostraria* Fund. Agrost. 149 (1820).

Derivation:. From Latin rostrum (beak or rostellum), alluding to the shape of the lemma apex in the type specimen.

Syn: Lophochloa Reichenb.

Key references (keys and floras):. J.C.Tothill and J.B.Hacker, Grasses of Southern Queensland 168–169 (1983) as Lophochloa; M.Lazarides, Flora of Central Australia 433 (1981) as Lophochloa; J.P.Jessop, Flora of South Australia 4:1912–1913 (1986) as Lophochloa; B.K.Simon, Key to Australian Grasses 153 (1993); S.W.L.Jacobs and K.L.McClay, Flora of New South Wales 4: 592 (1993); N.G.Walsh, Flora of Victoria 2: 455–456 (1994); D.I.Morris, Student's Flora of Tasmania 4B: 241–242 (1994); D.Sharp and B.K.Simon, AusGrass (2002); J.P.Jessop, Grasses of South Australia 222 (2006); J.P.Jessop, Grasses of South Australia 250–251 (2006); S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th ed, 360 (2008); A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2: 158–160 (2009)

W.D.Clayton & S.A.Renvoize, Genera Graminum (1986), genus (182).

Naturalised. About 10 species, from Mediterranean and Middle East. 2 species in Australia, WA, SA, Qld, NSW, Vic, and Tas.

Habit. Annual, rhizomatous. Leaf blades broad. Ligule an unfringed membrane.

Inflorescence. Inflorescence a false spike, with spikelets on contracted axes, a spike-like panicle.

Spikelets. Spikelets 2 flowered, with 2 or more fertile florets, awned.

Classification. Pooideae; Poeae.

Notes. An annual derivative of Koeleria with somewhat better development of the awn (Clayton & Renvoize, 1986).

Types Species. Not designated.

Biogeographic Element. Clifford & Simon 1981, Simon & Jacobs 1990: Naturalised.

AVH 2011

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith