Sorghum x almum* L. Parodi. Revista
Argent. Agron. 10: 361 (1943). Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Panicoideae. Andropogoneae.
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South
Australia (530), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales (as S. bicolor subsp. xalmum).
Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (531, fig. 452), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs,
R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn
(372).
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present, short. Culms erect, 200–320 cm tall, 6–10 mm
diam., 8–10 -noded. Mid-culm internodes solid, glabrous. Mid-culm nodes
pubescent. Lateral branches simple. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths smooth,
glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringed membrane, a ciliolate membrane or a
ciliate membrane, 2.5–5.5 mm long. Leaf-blades 30–100 cm long, 25–40 mm wide.
Leaf-blade surface smooth, glabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle of rames. Panicle pyramidal, 20–60 cm long,
8–25 cm wide. Rhachis fragile at the nodes.
Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile, 1 in the cluster. Companion spikelets pedicelled, 1 in the
cluster. Companion spikelets developed, male, 5 mm long. Companion spikelet
glumes muticous. 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, lanceolate or elliptic or ovate,
dorsally compressed, 5.5–6.5 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
dissimilar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, coriaceous, keeled,
2-keeled, winged on keel, 9–11 -nerved. Lower glume surface indumented. Upper
glume ovate, coriaceous, without keels. Upper glume surface indumented. Florets.
Basal sterile florets 1, barren, without significant palea. Lemma of lower
sterile floret hyaline, 2 -nerved.
Fertile lemma 1
-nerved. Lemma apex entire or dentate, muticous or awned, 1 -awned. Median
(principal) awn from a sinus, 8–10 mm long overall, with a twisted column.
Anthers 3. Grain 3–3.8 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia and South America.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia,
Queensland, New South Wales.
Western Australia:
Gardner. Roe, Coolgardie. Northern Territory: Darwin & Gulf, Barkly
Tableland, Central Australia South. South Australia: North-western,
Gairdner-Torrens Basin. Queensland: Burnett, Cook, Darling Downs,
Gregory North, Leichhardt, Maranoa, Mitchell, Moreton, North Kennedy, Port
Curtis, South Kennedy. New South Wales: North Coast, Central Coast,
South Coast.
Notes.
Cultivated widely as a forage grass, but has the tendency to escape and become
weedy. Flowers Dec--July.
