Walwhalleya subxerophila (Domin) K.E.
Wills & J.J. Bruhl. Aust. Syst. Bot. 19: 327 (2006).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Panicoideae. Paniceae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Panicum
subxerophilum Domin, Biblioth. Bot. 85: 316 (1915).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Queensland:
bewaldete Sandhügel der Dividing Range bei Jericho, Domin III. 1910 (PR).
Recent synonyms:
Whalleya subxerophila (Domin) Wills & J. Bruhl.
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia,
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales (400).
Illustrations:
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales, 4th edn (400).
Habit. Perennial. Rhizomes absent. Stolons absent. Culms erect, 20–70 cm
tall, wiry, 5–10 -noded. Mid-culm internodes glabrous. Mid-culm nodes glabrous.
Lateral branches simple or sparsely branched. Leaf-sheaths smooth or
scaberulous. Leaf-sheath auricles present. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 1–3.5
mm long, erose, truncate. Leaf-blades linear, flat or convolute, 2–13 cm long,
1.5–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth or scaberulous or scabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle ovate, 5–23 cm long, evenly
furnished or with spikelets clustered towards branch tips.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, the lower floret barren
(rarely male), the upper fertile, comprising 1 basal sterile florets,
comprising 1 fertile floret(s), without rachilla extension, elliptic or oblong,
dorsally compressed, 2–2.75 mm long. Rhachilla internodes brief up to lowest
fertile floret.
Glumes. Glumes
thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate or ovate, membranous, much
thinner on margins, without keels, 3–5 -nerved. Lower glume apex muticous or
mucronate. Upper glume elliptic, 3 mm long, membranous, without keels, 7–9
-nerved. Upper glume surface scabrous and tuberculate. Florets. Basal
sterile florets 1, barren, with palea or without significant palea. Lemma of
lower sterile floret 100 % of length of spikelet, membranous, 7–9 -nerved.
Fertile lemma 1.9–2.5
mm long, without keel. Lemma apex mucronate. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Queensland, New South Wales.
Queensland:
Burnett, Darling Downs, Leichhardt, Maranoa,
Mitchell, Port Curtis, Warrego. New
South Wales: North-Western Slopes,
Central-Western Slopes, North-Western Plains, South-Western Plains.
Notes.
Distinctive features include the presence of pronounced scabrosities on the
upper glume and lower lemma, the stout wiry culms, and absence of a lower
palea.
In Brigalow forests,
temperate sub-humid woodlands, semi-arid shrub woodlands, and acacia
shrublands. Flowers mostly Nov.-June.
