Tribolium obliterum*

Tribolium obliterum* (Hemsl.) S.A. Renvoize. Kew Bull. 40: 798 (1985).

Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Danthonioideae. Tribe
Danthonieae.

Basionym and/or
Replacement Name:
 Desmazeria
oblitera
Hemsl., Rep. Challenger, Bot. 1(2): 90, t. 51, f. 1–8
(1885).

Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information
: HT: Burchell 59, St. Helena (K).

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
(316).

Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia  (316, fig. 247).

Habit.
Perennial. Stolons absent or present. Culms geniculately ascending or
decumbent, 10–35 cm tall. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform,
involute, 2–15 cm long, 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a panicle. Panicle oblong or obovate, effuse, 1–5 cm long.

Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets (3–10), comprising 3–10 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at
the apex, ovate, laterally compressed, 3.5–5 mm long.

Glumes.
Glumes similar, similar to fertile lemma in texture. Lower glume ovate,
coriaceous, keeled, 1-keeled, 5 -nerved. Lower glume surface glabrous. Upper
glume ovate, 4–5 mm long, coriaceous, keeled, 1-keeled, 5 -nerved. Upper glume
surface glabrous.

Florets.
Fertile lemma 2–5 mm long, without keel, 7 -nerved. Lemma surface glabrous or
indumented. Palea 2 -nerved. Grain 0.7–1 mm long.

Continental
Distribution
: Africa.

Australian
Distribution
: Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria.

Western Australia:
Menzies. South Australia: Southern Lofty, South-eastern.

Notes.
Close to T. obtusifolium, distinct by the glabrous glumes, the florets
exserted from the glumes, the smaller anthers.

Very common from Mt
Lofty to Melbourne, apparently widely established as a weed, often in light
shade in woodland. Introduced from the Western Cape of South Africa. Flowers Sep.
to Nov.

 

AVH 2011

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith