Symplectrodia lanosa M. Lazarides. Nuytsia 5: 275–276 (1985).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Chloridoideae. Triodeae.
Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: Australia: Northern Territory: Darwin & Gulf District; Mt. Gilruth area; 12.58'S,133.10'E; 2 Jun 1978, Dunlop 4874 (HT: NT; IT: BRI, CANB, DNA, K, NSW).
Key references (books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia.
Illustrations: [2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of Australia 44B: Poaceae 3 (Fig. 39A-D).
Habit. Perennial. Rhizomes present, short. Culms stature robust to moderate, 61–300 cm tall. Mid-culm nodes pubescent or bearded. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface or hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs, 0.8–1 mm long. Leaf-blades conduplicate, 60–90 cm long, 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.
Inflorescence. Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle lanceolate, dense or loose, 44–54 cm long, 4–6 cm wide.
Spikelets. Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile florets, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the apex, lanceolate, laterally compressed, 11–15 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes similar, similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume lanceolate, cartilaginous, without keels, 3–5 -nerved. Lower glume apex muticous or awned. Upper glume lanceolate, 10–13 mm long, cartilaginous, without keels, 3–5 -nerved. Upper glume apex muticous or mucronate.
Florets. Fertile lemma 10 mm long, without keel, 3 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented. Lemma apex awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn 0.5–3 mm long overall. Palea 2 -nerved. Lodicules present. Anthers 3. Grain 4 mm long.
Continental Distribution: Australasia.
Australian Distribution: Northern Territory.
Northern Territory: Darwin & Gulf.
Notes. The extremely dense cover of woolly hairs on the basal foliage is a striking feature of some plants but is completely absent in others of the species. However, the unusually robust, rhizomatous, clump-forming habit, high colouring, great dimensions of leaves and panicles, and hirsute lemma of the fertile florets are consistent distinguishing characters. At maturity the rachilla and awns are about twice the length of the glumes, compared to several times the length in S. gracilis.
On the western margins of the Arnhem Land Plateau, N.T. In rugged, sandstone habitats such as steep rocky slopes and massive outcrops, and sometimes on deep white sand on the escarpment.
