Triodia racemigera
C.A.Gardner. Fl. W. Australia 1: 77 (1952).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Chloridoideae. Triodeae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia: Western Australia: Ord River, Kimberley
Div., Apr-May 1945, K.M. Durack s.n. (HT: PERTH; IT: CANB).
Key references
(books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (77), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia.
Illustrations:
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (68
& 72, Pl. 18 & 22).
Habit.
Perennial. Stolons present. Culms 30–130 cm tall. Mid-culm internodes glabrous.
Leaf-sheaths hairy. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule a fringe of hairs.
Leaf-blades curved or flexuous, aciculate, conduplicate, 55 cm long, 1–1.3 mm
wide.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle of racemes. Racemes appressed, linear, 2–5 cm
long. Central inflorescence axis 31–65 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets (3), comprising 3 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the apex,
oblong, laterally compressed or terete, 4–8 mm long.
Glumes.
Glumes similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate or oblong,
coriaceous or indurate, keeled, 1-keeled, 1–5 -nerved. Lower glume surface
glabrous. Lower glume apex muticous or mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate or
oblong, 3–5.5 mm long, coriaceous or indurate, keeled, 1-keeled, 1–5 -nerved.
Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex entire, muticous or mucronate.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 4.5–6 mm long, without keel or keeled, 3–5 -nerved. Lemma surface
indumented. Lemma apex lobed, muticous. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory.
Western Australia:
Gardner. Northern Territory: Victoria River.
Notes.
Distinguished by its spiciform racemose panicle; glumes long relative to
spikelet; lemma hirsute on lower 1/2–2/3, deeply 3-lobed; glabrous relatively
long paleas with winged, unexposed keels; mature, reddish-brown, long-hirsute
leaf sheaths; extremely long, flexuous or curved, relatively slender blades;
cuneate, closely few-flowered spikelets, often almost as wide as long.
East
Gardner District of W.A. and adjacent parts of the N.T. On steep rocky slopes,
crevices, cliffs and ridges of sandstone hills; flowers Dec., Feb.-May.
