Whiteochloa airoides (R.Br.) Lazarides. Brunonia
1: 73 (1978).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Panicoideae. Paniceae.
Common name:
Creeping Panic.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Panicum
airoides R. Br., Prodr. 190 (1810).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: R. Brown 6112, Australia: Northern
Territory: Darwin & Gulf Distr.: Gulf
of Carpenteria, Cape Shield
(BM; IT: B, E, K, P).
Key references
(books and floras): [1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus (190 as Panicum
airoides), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia.
Derivation:
inflorescences resemble those of Aira.
Habit.
Perennial. Culms 45–110 cm tall, 3–4 -noded. Mid-culm internodes glabrous or
pubescent. Mid-culm nodes glabrous or pubescent or bearded. Ligule a fringed
membrane, a ciliolate membrane, 0.3–0.7 mm long. Leaf-blades 10–24 cm long,
1.5–5.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle linear or oblong, 7–25 cm long, 1–10
cm wide, contracted about primary branches.
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, oblong, laterally compressed,
3–4 mm long. Rhachilla internodes brief up to lowest fertile floret, or
elongated between glumes, or elongated below proximal fertile floret.
Glumes. Glumes
dissimilar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume orbicular, membranous,
keeled, 1-keeled, 3–5 -nerved. Lower glume apex muticous or mucronate. Upper
glume ovate, 3–4 mm long, membranous, without keels, 5–7 -nerved. Upper glume
surface glabrous. Upper glume apex mucronate. Florets. Basal sterile
florets 1, male, with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret 100 % of length of spikelet,
scarious, 5 -nerved, mucronate.
Fertile lemma 1.7–3 mm
long, without keel, 3 -nerved. Lemma apex mucronate. Anthers 3. Grain 1.75–2.25
mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland.
Western Australia: Gardner,
Fitzgerald, Hall. Northern
Territory: Darwin & Gulf. Queensland: Burke, Cook, Leichhardt,
North Kennedy, South Kennedy.
Notes. In
tropical and subtropical rain forests, tropical and subtropical sub-humid
woodlands, and coastal grasslands. A widespread species with variable
inflorescence form. Flowers throughout the year.
