Whiteochloa multiciliata Lazarides. Brunonia
1: 88 (1977).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Panicoideae. Paniceae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia:
Northern Territory: Darwin & Gulf Distr.:
on Start Highway,
10.5 mi SE of Mataranka, 21 Mar 1964, Lazarides 7093 (HT: CANB; IT: BRI,
K, L, MO, NSW, NT,
PERTH,).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia.
Derivation:
from the Latin multus (many), cilium (hair) and -ata
(possessing). With seven rows of hairs on the upper glume.
Habit. Annual.
Culms 45–100 cm tall, 4–6 -noded. Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths
glabrous on surface or hairy. Ligule a fringed membrane, a ciliolate membrane,
0.4–0.7 mm long. Leaf-blades 8–18 cm long, 2.5–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface
smooth or scaberulous, glabrous or indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle ovate, 12–18 cm long, 5–10 cm wide.
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, 2.5–3.5 mm long. Rhachilla internodes brief up to lowest fertile
floret, or elongated below proximal fertile floret.
Glumes. Glumes
dissimilar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblate, membranous, keeled,
1-keeled, 3 -nerved. Lower glume surface indumented. Lower glume apex muticous
or mucronate. Upper glume oblong, 2.4–3.4 mm long, membranous, without keels, 7
-nerved. Upper glume surface smooth or asperulous, indumented. Upper glume apex
muticous or 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 1.5–2.1
mm long, without keel. Lemma apex mucronate. Anthers 3. Grain 1.5 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Northern Territory.
Northern Territory: Darwin &
Gulf.
Notes. In
tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands. Flowers Jan.-Apr.
