Triodia radonensis
S.W.L. Jacobs. Telopea 4: 658 (1992).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Chloridoideae. Triodeae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Northern Territory: Darwin and Gulf District; Radon
Creek, Brockman Range, 12º45' S, 132º54' E, 10 Jun 78, P.K. Latz 7676
(HT: NSW; IT: BRI, CANB, DNA, K, NT, PERTH).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia.
Habit.
Perennial. Culms sprawling, 150–250 cm tall, 5–10 mm diam. Leaf-sheaths smooth,
glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule a fringe of hairs, 1
mm long. Leaf-blades flat or conduplicate or convolute, 30–60 cm long, 2–5 mm
wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous, glabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle elliptic, 14–25 cm long, 7–15 cm
wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets (5–7), comprising 5–7 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the
apex, oblong, laterally compressed, 5–8 mm long.
Glumes.
Glumes similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong, membranous,
without keels, 3 -nerved. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex
muticous. Upper glume oblong, 2–2.5 mm long, membranous, without keels, 3
-nerved. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex entire or dentate or
lobed, muticous.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 2–3 mm long, without keel, 3 -nerved. Lemma surface glabrous.
Lemma apex lobed, mucronate. Median (principal) awn from a sinus. Palea apex
erose. Lodicules present. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Northern Territory.
Northern Territory:
Darwin & Gulf.
Notes.
Known only from the type collection.
Distinguished by its sprawling, loose habit; highly
viscid foliage; broad loose leaf sheaths; long, often convolute or flat blades
lacking a petiole; open panicle; oblong spikelet with widely divergent distant
florets; membranous, obtusely 2-lobed, 3-ribbed glumes much shorter than the
spikelet; mostly indurated, smooth, bitextured inflated almost entire lemmas,
and paleas similar to lemma in texture and length.
Having some similarities with T. procera,
but extremely distinctive in its spikelet morphogy.
Kakadu
Natl Park, N.T. Sandy levee banks; flowers June.
