Rostraria pumila* (Desf) Tsvelev. Novosti Sist. Vyssh. Rast. 7: 48 (1971).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Poeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Avena pumila
Desf., Fl. Atlant. 1: 103 (1798.).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: LT: Broussonet 296, 1806, Morocco (LE). LT
designated by ?; cited by Henderson & Schäfer, Bot. J. Linn Soc.
141: 130 (2003).
Recent synonyms:
Lophochloa pumila, Trisetum pumilum.
Key references
(books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (62 as Trisetum pumilum), [1981] M.Lazarides in
J.Jessop (ed)., Flora of Central Australia (434 as Lophochloa),
[2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia, [2006]
J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (251),
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales (360), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae
2 (160).
Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (252, Fig. 194), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs,
R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn
(360).
Habit. Annual.
Culms erect or geniculately ascending, 5–35 cm tall, 1–4 -noded. Ligule an
eciliate membrane, 1–1.5 mm long, obtuse. Leaf-blades 3–7 cm long, 1–3 mm wide.
Leaf-blade surface glabrous or indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a panicle. Panicle oblong or ovate, 1–6 cm long, 0.4–0.5
cm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered (4), comprising 4 fertile
floret(s), with a barren rachilla extension, oblong, laterally compressed,
2.5–3.5 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume elliptic, membranous,
without keels, 3 -nerved. Lower glume surface indumented. Upper glume elliptic,
2.5–3 mm long, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 3 -nerved. Upper glume surface
glabrous or indumented.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 3–3.5 mm long, keeled, 5 -nerved. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma
apex dentate, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn dorsal, 2–3 mm long
overall. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, and
Australasia.
Australian Distribution:
Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria.
Western Australia:
Carnarvon, Austin. Eucla, Irwin, Avon, Coolgardie. South Australia: Lake
Eyre, Nullabor, Gairdner-Torrens Basin, Flinders Ranges, Eastern, Eyre
Peninsula, Murray. New South Wales: South-Western Plains, North Far
Western Plains, South Far Western Plains. Victoria: Gippsland Plain,
Murray Mallee.
Notes. Introduced. Native
of Europe. Grows in disturbed areas, in sand, clay or loamy sites, in open
woodland or shrubland, often in areas subject to flooding. Flowers
(June-)Aug.-Oct. Fruits Sept.-Oct.
