Triodia desertorum (C.E. Hubb.) M. Lazarides. Austral. Syst. Bot. 10: 429 (1997).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Chloridoideae. Triodeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Plectrachne
desertorum C.E. Hubb., Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1941: 28 (1941).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia: Western Australia: Victoria Desert, 16
Sep 1891, Helms s.n. (HT: K; IT: PERTH(photo), MEL, NSW (2 sheets), BRI
(fragm. & photo)).
Key references
(books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (82 as Plectrachne), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass,
Grasses of Australia.
Illustrations:
[2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of Australia 44B: Poaceae 3 (Fig.
33N-Q).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect, stature slender to delicate, 40–100 cm tall. Mid-culm
internodes glabrous. Lateral branches simple. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface
or hairy. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades
spreading, aciculate, conduplicate, 2–10(–13) cm long, 2 mm wide. Leaf-blade
surface glabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle lanceolate, 7.5–15 cm long, 2–4 cm
wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets (3–5), comprising 3–5 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the
apex, elliptic, laterally compressed, 15–22 mm long.
Glumes.
Glumes similar. Lower glume lanceolate or elliptic, chartaceous or scarious or
cartilaginous, without keels, 9–13 -nerved. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower
glume apex mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate or elliptic, 11–15 mm long,
chartaceous or scarious or cartilaginous, without keels, 8–9 -nerved. Upper
glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex entire or with a unilateral tooth or
dentate, mucronate.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 4–7 mm long, without keel, 11–13 -nerved. Lemma surface
indumented. Lemma apex lobed, awned, 3 -awned. Median (principal) awn 11–16 mm
long overall. Lateral lemma awns present. Palea 2 -nerved. Lodicules present.
Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia.
Western Australia:
Austin. Coolgardie.
Notes.
Distinguished by the exserted usually closely imbricate florets of the
spikelet; palea densely hairy on most parts; sparse, simple panicle; compact
pin-cushion habit with rigid short blades and many-noded strongly branched
culms. Similar to P. rigidissima.
Central
Eremaean Province of W.A. Inhabiting deep red or yellow sands; flowers
Sept.-Dec.
