Triodia triticoides C.A.Gardner. Fl. W. Australia 1: 78 (1952).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Chloridoideae. Triodeae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia: Western Australia: Kimberley Research
Station, Ord River, 28 Jan 1949, E.C.B. Langfield 32 (HT: PERTH, CANB).
Key references
(books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (78), [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. Culms 45–200 cm tall. Mid-culm internodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths
hairy. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades
aciculate, conduplicate, 5–40 cm long. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle of racemes. Panicle 20–35 cm long, 1 cm wide.
Racemes appressed, 4–7 cm long, bearing 14–18 fertile spikelets on each.
Central inflorescence axis 20–40 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets (7–10), comprising 7–10 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at
the apex, lanceolate or ovate, laterally compressed, 7–9 mm long.
Glumes.
Glumes similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong, coriaceous or
indurate, without keels, 2–5 -nerved. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume
apex mucronate. Upper glume oblong, 4–4.5 mm long, coriaceous or indurate,
without keels, 2–5 -nerved. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex
lobed, mucronate.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 4–5 mm long, without keel, 3 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented.
Lemma apex lobed, muticous. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia.
Western Australia:
Gardner.
Notes.
Distinguished by the spiciform, continuous panicle; asymmetrically lobed glume:
deeply and unequally lobed lemmas; broadly winged palea keels; and glumes much
shorter than the spikelet.
Kimberley
region, East and Central Gardner Districts of W.A. Rocky sandstone and
limestone hillslopes; flowers recorded in Jan., June and July.
