Triodia longiloba M.
Lazarides. Austral. Syst. Bot.
10: 446, 448 (1997).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Chloridoideae. Triodeae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Northern Territory: Darwin and Gulf District; near
Mt. Eliza, Lat. 15º07' S, Long. 134º29' E, 17 Jan 1989, P.K. Latz 11165
(HT: CANB; IT: DNA, NT).
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.36G-J).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms 40–200 cm tall. Leaf-sheaths scaberulous, glabrous on surface.
Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule a fringe of hairs, 2 mm long. Leaf-blades
curved or curled or flexuous, conduplicate, 21–45 cm long, 0.8–1.5 mm wide.
Leaf-blade surface scabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid or compound, a raceme, a panicle of racemes. Panicle
linear, 20–50 cm long, 1.5–2.5 cm wide. Racemes 1, 20–50 cm long, 15–25 mm
wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets (5–13), comprising 5–13 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at
the apex, linear, terete, (10–)14–18 mm long. Rhachilla internodes elongated
between glumes.
Glumes.
Glumes similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic or oblong,
cartilaginous, much thinner above, much thinner on margins, without keels,
5(–9) -nerved. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex muticous. Upper
glume elliptic or oblong, 5–6 mm long, cartilaginous, without keels, 5(–9)
-nerved. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex entire or dentate or
lobed, muticous.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 6–8.5 mm long, without keel, 9 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented. Lemma apex lobed,
muticous. Palea apex dentate. Lodicules present. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory.
Western Australia:
Gardner. Northern Territory: Darwin & Gulf.
Notes.
Distinguished by its deeply lobed lemmas (the only species with lemma lobes
longer than the body); linear panicle partly reduced to a raceme; extremely
resinous culms, foliage and spikelets.
N of
17°S in W.A. and N.T. Skeletal soil over sandstone on ridges and escarpment,
and riverine sand in gorge; flowers Dec. and Jan., May.
