Schizachyrium perplexum S. T. Blake. Contr.
Queensland
Herb.17: 14 (1974).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Panicoideae. Andropogoneae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia:
Queensland: Cook District: Mt. Mulligan,
Apr 1939, Pedler 6 (BRI-047910).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia.
Habit. Annual.
Culms 10–20 cm tall, 0.4 mm diam., 5–8 -noded. Mid-culm internodes with
pubescent line. Lateral branches branched. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 0.7–0.8
mm long. Leaf-blades conduplicate, 1.7–2.7 cm long, 1–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade
surface scaberulous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid or compound, a rame, a panicle of rames. Rhachis fragile at
the nodes.
Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile, 1 in the cluster. Companion spikelets pedicelled, 1 in the
cluster. Companion spikelets rudimentary, comprising 2 unequal glumes without
lemmas, 0.6–0.7 mm long. Companion spikelet glumes awned. Fertile spikelets
2-flowered, the lower floret barren (rarely male), the upper fertile,
comprising 1 basal sterile florets, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), without
rachilla extension, elliptic, dorsally compressed, 3.5–4.5 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
dissimilar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, chartaceous,
keeled, 2-keeled, winged on keel, winged narrowly, 3–5 -nerved. Lower glume
surface indumented. Upper glume lanceolate, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1
-nerved. Florets. Basal sterile florets 1, barren, without significant
palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret 75 % of length of spikelet, hyaline, 0
-nerved.
Fertile lemma without
keel, 1 -nerved. Lemma apex lobed, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn from
a sinus, 16–21 mm long overall, with a twisted column. Column 6–7 mm long.
Palea absent. Grain 1.6–2.2 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Northern Territory, Queensland.
Northern Territory: Darwin &
Gulf. Queensland:
Burke, Cook, Gregory North.
Notes. A rather
rare annual on sandy soils and sandstone hills from a few localities in
northern Qld and N.T. Flowers Mar.--May.
