Thelepogon australiensis B.K.Simon. Austrobaileya
4: 57 (1993).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Panicoideae. Andropogoneae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia: Queensland: Cook Distr.: 62 km N of
Archer R. on Coen to Weipa road, 19 Apr 1991, J.R. Clarkson & V.J.
Nelder 8981 (HT: BRI(AQ570010, 2 sheets); IT: K, MBA, NSW).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia.
Habit. Annual.
Basal leaf sheaths present. Culms erect, 70–140 cm tall. Mid-culm nodes
glabrous. Lateral branches sparsely branched. Leaf-sheaths hairy. Ligule a
fringed membrane, a ciliolate membrane, 1 mm long. Leaf-blades lanceolate, 5–12
cm long, 6–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a rame. Rhachis fragile at the nodes.
Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile, 1 in the cluster. Companion spikelets pedicelled, 1 in the
cluster. Companion spikelets represented by barren pedicels. Fertile spikelets
2-flowered, the lower floret barren (rarely male), the upper fertile,
comprising 1 basal sterile florets, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), lanceolate
or elliptic, dorsally compressed, 6–7 mm long.
Glumes.
Glumes dissimilar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic or ovate,
indurate, without keels, 7 -nerved. Lower glume surface glabrous. Upper glume
elliptic, 7 mm long, chartaceous or coriaceous, keeled, 1-keeled, 3 -nerved.
Upper glume surface glabrous. Florets. Basal sterile florets 1, male,
without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret hyaline or membranous.
Fertile lemma 4 mm
long, without keel. Lemma apex lobed, awned. Median (principal) awn from a
sinus, 12–16 mm long overall, with a twisted column. Palea without keels.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Queensland.
Queensland:
Cook.
Notes. Thus far
restricted to the type locality on Cape York Peninsula, where it is found in Piliostigma
malabaricum low open woodland. Flowers Apr.
