Spartochloa scirpoidea (Steud.) C.E.Hubb.
Kew Bull. 7: 308 (1952).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Arundinoideae. Tribe 'Spartochloeae'. Spartochloeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Brizopyrum
scirpoideum Steud., Syn. Pl. Glumac. 1: 282 (1854).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: New Holl., Drummond IV. 102.
Key references
(books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (as Festuca scirpoidea), [2002] D.Sharp &
B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia.
Illustrations:
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (93,
Pl.26 as Festuca).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect, 50–70 cm tall, wiry. Leaf-sheaths smooth, glabrous on
surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs, 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades triangular to
linear, 0.5–3 cm long, 0.5–1 mm wide.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a panicle. Panicle linear, 3–23 cm long, 0.8–1.5 cm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets (4–8), comprising 4–8 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the
apex, oblong, laterally compressed, 6–10 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, membranous, without
keels, 3 -nerved. Upper glume ovate, membranous, without keels, 3 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 3.5–4.5 mm long, without keel, 5–7 -nerved. Lemma surface
glabrous. Palea 2 -nerved. Lodicules present. Anthers 3. Grain 1.51 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia.
Western Australia:
Drummond, Menzies, Eyre, Roe, Avon, Coolgardie.
Notes.
Restricted to the semi-arid southern margins of W.A., edges of Casuarina
thickets on flat brown clays. Flowers Sep. to Oct.