Yakirra websteri B.K.Simon. Austrobaileya
3: 602 (1992).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Panicoideae. Paniceae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia:
Queensland:
Mitchell Dist.: 93 k N of Langlo Crossing, 20 May 1975, G. R. Beeston 1361C
(HT: BRI-AQ268164; IT: BRI, CANB, K, NSW).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia.
Derivation: in
honour of Robert Dale Webster (1950–). United States botanist.
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect, 25–80 cm tall, 2–3 -noded. Mid-culm nodes pubescent.
Lateral branches simple. Ligule a fringe of hairs, 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades
7–12 cm long, 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle ovate, 10–20 cm long.
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, ovate, dorsally compressed,
2.5 mm long. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes.
Glumes. Glumes
dissimilar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, membranous, without
keels, 3–5 -nerved. Upper glume ovate, 2.5 mm long, membranous, without keels,
9 -nerved. Florets. Basal sterile florets 1, barren, with palea. Lemma
of lower sterile floret 100 % of length of spikelet, membranous.
Fertile lemma 1.8 mm
long, without keel. Lodicules present. Grain 1.5 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian Distribution:
Queensland.
Queensland: Maranoa, Mitchell.
Notes. The only
species of Yakirra with spikelets less than 3 mm long and with afully
developed lower palea.
