Thaumastochloa major S. T. Blake. Univ. Queensland Dept. Biol. Pap. 1(18): 20 (1941).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Panicoideae. Andropogoneae.
Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: HT: S.T. Blake 13360, 24 Mar 1938, Australia: Queensland: Cook Distr.: Cairns, 16º55'S 145º46'E, 1.5 m (BRI; IT: L, US-1819361).
Key references (books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia.
Habit. Annual. Culms geniculately ascending or decumbent, 15–35 cm tall, 6–10 -noded. Mid-culm nodes bearded. Ligule a fringed membrane, a ciliolate membrane, 0.3 mm long. Leaf-blades linear, flat or involute, 2–12 cm long, 1.5–5.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous or indumented.
Inflorescence. Inflorescence solid, a rame (spicate). Rhachis fragile but the lowest internode fused to peduncle.
Spikelets. Spikelets sessile, 1 in the cluster. Companion spikelets pedicelled, 1 in the cluster. Companion spikelets represented by barren pedicels. Apical sterile spikelets rudimentary. 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, ovate, dorsally compressed, 2.3–4 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes dissimilar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong or ovate, indurate, keeled, 2-keeled, 9–10 -nerved. Upper glume elliptic, coriaceous, without keels, 5 -nerved. Florets. Basal sterile florets 1, barren, without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret hyaline, 2 -nerved.
Fertile lemma 2.2–2.7 mm long, without keel, 0–2 -nerved. Palea 0–2 -nerved, without keels. Anthers 3. Grain 2.3 mm long.
Continental Distribution: Australasia.
Australian Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland.
Western Australia: Fitzgerald. Northern Territory: Darwin & Gulf. Queensland: Cook, Burke, North Kennedy.
Notes. Sandy soils in damp situations in northern Australia extending to Malesia (Aru Is.). Flowers Feb.--Oct.
