Tetrarrhena turfosa N.G. Walsh. Muelleria
7: 95 (1989).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Ehrhartoideae. Tribe Ehrharteae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia, Victoria, Hall's Gap: Beauglehole 30309
(MEL holo, AD. BRI, CANB, HO, NSW).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South
Australia (63), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales (381), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia,
Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (378).
Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (63, fig. 27), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs,
R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn
(381).
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present, short. Culms erect or geniculately ascending,
6–60(–130) cm tall. Mid-culm internodes glabrous. Lateral branches sparsely
branched. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule a fringed membrane, a ciliolate
membrane, 0.3–0.5 mm long, membranous. Leaf-blades erect, involute, 2–7 cm
long, 0.3–0.8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, glabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a raceme. Racemes 1, 0.5–3 cm long, bearing 3–10 fertile
spikelets on each.
Spikelets. Spikelets
sessile. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 2 basal sterile florets,
comprising 1 fertile floret(s), without rachilla extension, oblong, laterally
compressed, 4.6–6 mm long. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, membranous, without
keels or keeled, 1–3 -nerved. Upper glume ovate, 1.1–2 mm long, membranous,
without keels, 3 -nerved. Florets. Basal sterile florets 2 or more,
barren, without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret 66 % of length
of spikelet, coriaceous, without keels, 5–7 -nerved, muticous or mucronate or
awned. Lemma of upper sterile floret 3.4–6.8 mm long, muticous or mucronate or
awned.
Fertile lemma 4.8–6.8
mm long, keeled, 5–7 -nerved. Palea 1 -nerved. Lodicules present. Anthers 4.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria.
South Australia:
South-eastern. New South Wales: Central Coast, Northern Tablelands,
Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands. Victoria: East Gippsland,
Eastern Highlands, Gippsland Plain, Grampians, Snowfields.
Notes. Usually
associated with heath and sedge-rich vegetation in swamps and watercourses from
near sea-level in eastern Vic. to subalpine situations in both Vic. and N.S.W.
Soils typically wet and peaty, mainly derived from or formed upon sandstone,
but also on granite and basalt. Flowers and fruits Nov.-Feb.
