Zea mexicana* (Schrad.) Kuntze. Amer.
J. Bot. 29: 817 (1942).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Panicoideae. Andropogoneae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Euchlaena
mexicana Schrad., Index Sem. 1832: 3 (1832).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: (LE-TRIN-0001.01). "Probably Central
Plateau Race or Chalco Race" H.H. Iltis. IT: Muhlenfordt s.n., Mexico
(US-727076 (fragm.)).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia.
Derivation:
from Mexico.
Habit. Annual.
Culms erect, 200–400 cm tall. Mid-culm internodes solid. Lateral branches
branched. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate
membrane. Leaf-blades linear or lanceolate, flat, 60–120 cm long, 50–80 mm
wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle of rames. Rhachis fragile at the nodes.
Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile. Male spikelets sessile and pedicelled, 2 in a cluster.
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, 4–8 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
dissimilar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong, indurate, without
keels. Upper glume elliptic, membranous, without keels. Florets. Basal
sterile florets 1, barren, with palea or without significant palea. Lemma of
lower sterile floret membranous. Fertile florets female.
Fertile lemma without
keel. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia, North
America, and South America.
Australian
Distribution: Queensland.
Queensland: Cook.
Notes. Native
to Mexico: introduced to Australia as fodder and naturalised in N. Qld.
