Sporobolus sessilis

Sporobolus sessilis B.K.Simon. Austral. Syst. Bot. 12: 408 (1999).

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

Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: Indonesia: Java: Yogyakarta, 11 Sep 1992, B.K. Simon 4236 (HT: BRI; IT: BO, L, K).

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 (379).

Illustrations: [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, 30–100 cm tall. Lateral branches simple. Ligule a fringed membrane or a fringe of hairs, 0.4 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform or linear, flat or convolute, 7–25 cm long, 0.5–4 mm wide.

Inflorescence. Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle lanceolate, 10–30 cm long, 2–4 cm wide, contracted about primary branches.

Spikelets. Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate, terete, 1.2–2 mm long.

Glumes. Glumes similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic or oblong, without keels, 0 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate or oblong, 1.5 mm long, hyaline, without keels, 1 -nerved.

Florets. Fertile lemma 1.5–2.2 mm long, without keel, 1 -nerved. Palea 2 -nerved. Palea apex entire. Anthers 2–3. Grain 0.8–1 mm long.

Continental Distribution: Australasia.

Australian Distribution: Queensland, New South Wales.

Queensland: Burke, Cook, Leichhardt, Moreton, North Kennedy, Port Curtis, and Wide Bay. New South Wales: North Coast and Central Coast.

Notes. Differs from S. diandrus by there being no naked zone at the base of the inflorescence branches, and from S. laxus, by the naked zone of the inflorescence branches being shorter. There are usually 2 anthers, rarely 3 (Lazarides 3645A).

Mainly coastal Qld and N.S.W.; extends to Malesia. A fairly widespread native species in woodland and native grassland; flowers all year.

 

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