Thellungia advena Stapf. Mitt.
Naturf. Ges. Soluthurn 7 (1920).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Chloridoideae. Cynodonteae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: R. Probst s.n., 1918, Switzerland:
Solothurn [introduced from Australia] (K; IT: US-2947408).
Recent synonyms:
Eragrostis advena.
Key references
(books and floras): [1981] M.Lazarides in J.Jessop (ed)., Flora of
Central Australia (463), [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 (382).
Illustrations:
[2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of Australia 44B: Poaceae 3 (Fig. 64
as Eragrostis advena), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley &
D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn (382).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect or geniculately ascending, 60–150 cm tall. Ligule a
fringed membrane or a fringe of hairs, a ciliate membrane, 0.4–0.5 mm long.
Leaf-blades straight, flat or involute, 10–30 cm long, 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade
surface scaberulous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a panicle. Panicle linear, 20–50 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets, comprising 1–5 fertile floret(s), with a barren rachilla extension,
oblong, laterally compressed, 4–5.5 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper
glume lanceolate, 1.8–3 mm long, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 2.5–3 mm long, keeled, 1–3 -nerved. Lemma apex muticous or
pungent. Palea 2 -nerved. Lodicules present. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian Distribution:
Queensland, New South Wales.
Queensland:
Burke, Cook, Darling Downs, Leichhardt, Maranoa, Mitchell, North Kennedy, Port
Curtis, South Kennedy, Warrego. New South Wales: North-Western Slopes,
North-Western Plains, South-Western Plains, North Far Western Plains, South Far
Western Plains.
Notes.
Distinguishing characters include cleistogamous spikelets; florest falling
entire; rachilla disarticulating above glumes, persistent between florets;
persistent or subpersistent glumes; unequal, 1–3-nerved lemmas; palea with
broad flaps; caryopsis often exserted from free pericarp, glossy.
Endemic;
occurrs from around Einasleigh in NE Qld, S to near Deniliquin, N.S.W. On heavy
clay soils in association with grasslands and brigalow scrub, in swamps and
disturbed alluvial flats.; flowers Jan.-July, Sept.-Nov. or all seasons; fruits
Jan.-July, Sept.-Nov. or all seasons.
