Triodia biflora M.
Lazarides. Austral. Syst. Bot.
10: 412 (1997).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Chloridoideae. Triodeae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Western Australia: Norhtern Province, Hamersley
Range, Knox Gorge, Karijini National Park, Lat. 22º23' S, Long. 11 18' E,
22.vii.1992., B.Rice 4445 (HT: CANB).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia.
Illustrations:
[2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of Australia 44B: Poaceae 3 (Fig.
38I-K).
Habit. Perennial.
Stolons absent or present. Culms 30–60 cm tall. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on
surface. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule a fringe of hairs, 1.5–2 mm long.
Leaf-blades straight, conduplicate or involute, 25–30 cm long, 0.5–1.2 mm wide.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle elliptic, 20–25 cm long, 5–7 cm
wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets (2), comprising 2 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the
apex, elliptic, laterally compressed, 3.3–4 mm long.
Glumes.
Glumes similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic or oblong,
chartaceous or scarious, without keels, 3 -nerved. Lower glume surface
glabrous. Lower glume apex muticous. Upper glume elliptic or oblong, 2.5–3.5 mm
long, chartaceous or scarious, without keels, 3 -nerved. Upper glume surface
asperulous, glabrous. Upper glume apex entire.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 3–3.8 mm long, without keel, 3–5 -nerved. Lemma surface glabrous.
Lemma apex entire (or minutely 3-dentate) or dentate or lobed, muticous. Palea
apex entire or dentate. Lodicules present. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia.
Western Australia:
Fortescue.
Notes.
Known from only 2 collections.
Diagnostic characters include the spikelet of
two sessile closely appressed similar, adjacent fertile florets and a third
vestigial floret terminal on a long, filiform internode of the rachilla. Also
the glumes are scarious and slightly shorter than the florets; the lemmas
bitextured, 3-nerved, with thickly 3–5-nerved apex; the palea is partly
scaberulous, with winged keels; the callus minute and thickened; and the
foliage highly resinous.
Known
only from the Hamersley Ra., W.A. Steep rocky walls and ledges of gorges;
flowers July-Aug.
