Sporobolus disjunctus

Sporobolus disjunctus B.K.Simon. Austrobaileya 4: 59 (1993).

Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Chloridoideae. Cynodonteae.

Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: Australia: Queensland: South Kennedy Distr.: 9 mi [14.4 km] N of Avon Downs Station, 13 Jul 1964, L. Adams 1060 (HT: CANB-143738; IT: BRI-288512).

Key references (books and floras): [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 (378).

Illustrations: [2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of Australia 44B: Poaceae 3 (Fig. 61), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn (378).

Habit. Perennial. Culms erect, 40–80 cm tall, 2–5 -noded. Lateral branches sparsely branched or branched. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringed membrane or a fringe of hairs, 0.7 mm long. Leaf-blades linear, flat or involute, 10–25 cm long, 4–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous, indumented.

Inflorescence. Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle linear, 10–25 cm long, 0.4–0.8 cm wide, gathered into fascicles.

Spikelets. Spikelets sessile or pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1(–2) fertile floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate, terete, 1–2.3 mm long.

Glumes. Lower glume lanceolate or ovate, membranous, without keels, 1 -nerved. Upper glume elliptic or ovate, 1.8–2 mm long, membranous, without keels, 1 -nerved. Upper glume surface smooth or asperulous.

Florets. Fertile lemma 2–2.3 mm long, keeled, 1 -nerved. Palea 2 -nerved. Palea apex entire. Lodicules present. Anthers 2–3. Grain 0.7–0.9 mm long.

Continental Distribution: Australasia.

Australian Distribution: Queensland.

Queensland: Leichhardt, Maranoa, South Kennedy, Burke, Darling Downs.

Notes. A few of the specimens cited in the protologue are Thellungia advena  Stapf ex Probst: Thompson HUG203 & Henderson, Warrian 890, Ross AQ542465, Crane AQ506149.

Endemic; restricted to black cracking clay soils from central Qld to the Darling Downs. Flowers Jan.-Feb., Apr.-July, Nov.

 

AVH 2011

 

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith