Spinifex sericeus R. Br. Prodr. 198
(1810).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Panicoideae. Paniceae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: Brown s.n., 10 Sep 1802, Australia:
Broad Sound (BM).
Key references
(books and floras): [1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus (198), [2002] D.Sharp
& B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia, [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs,
R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales.
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present, elongated. Stolons present. Culms decumbent, 30–90
cm tall, 2–4 mm diam., woody, 5–20 -noded. Mid-culm nodes glabrous.
Leaf-sheaths hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs, 1.8–6 mm long. Leaf-blades flat
or involute, 20–40 cm long, 4–17 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence digitate, with racemose branches. Racemes 1, radiating, 12–17 cm
long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile. Male spikelets sessile. 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, dorsally compressed, 12–18 mm long.
Glumes.
Glumes similar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous
or chartaceous, without keels, 7–11 -nerved. Lower glume surface glabrous or
indumented. Upper glume lanceolate, 12–18 mm long, membranous or chartaceous,
without keels, 7–9 -nerved. Upper glume surface glabrous or indumented. Florets.
Basal sterile florets 1, barren, without significant palea. Lemma of lower
sterile floret 100 % of length of spikelet, chartaceous or cartilaginous, 5–9
-nerved. Fertile florets female.
Fertile lemma 7–15 mm
long, without keel.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria,
Tasmania, Norfolk I, Lord Howe.
South Australia:
Nullabor, Northern Lofty, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island,
South-eastern. Queensland: Cook, Moreton, North Kennedy, Port Curtis,
South Kennedy, Wide Bay. New South Wales: North Coast, Central Coast,
South Coast. Victoria: East Gippsland, Gippsland Plain, Otway Plain,
Otway Range, Wilsons Promontory, Wannon. Tasmania: King Island, Furneaux
Group, North West, North East, East Coast.
Notes.
Spinfex sericeus is morphologically similar to S. hirsutus and
the taxonomic relationship between these taxa is unclear.
The male inflorescence of this species is
similar to that of S. hirsutus.
On coastal areas from
tropical Qld to the Adelaide region of S.A., and in Tas. Also in New Zealand.
In tropical heaths, mallee heaths, tropical and subtropical rain forests,
temperate wet sclerophyll forests, dry sclerophyll forests, tropical and subtropical
sub-humid woodlands, and temperate sub-humid woodlands. Flowers Nov.-Jan. in SE
Australia and June-Aug. in Qld (Craig, 1984).
