Cenchrus elymoides F. Muell. Fragm. 8: 107 (1873).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Panicoideae. Paniceae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Cenchrus
elymoides F.Muell, Fragm. 8: 107 (1873).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: LT: Mueller s.n., Australia: western
Australia: Mueller District: Sturts Creek (MEL-604906(photo, BRI)). LT
designated by ?.
Recent synonyms: Pennisetum elymoides.
Key references
(books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (277) as Pennisetum, [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia.
Illustrations:
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (279,
Pl. 80).
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present. Stolons absent. Culms stature robust to moderate,
40–150 cm tall. Leaf-sheaths hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs, 0.5–2.2 mm long.
Leaf-blades 14–34 cm long, 3.3–10.2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, of only a few spikelets (spicate). Panicle linear, dense
(internodes 1.2–2.8mm), 10.5–16 cm long, 1.1–1.5 cm wide. Racemes 10.5–16 cm
long, 0.3–0.4 mm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile, 1–3 in the cluster. Involucre composed of bristles, connate
into a disc below. 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, lanceolate,
dorsally compressed, 5–7.5 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, membranous, without keels, 1
-nerved. Upper glume ovate, 5–7.4 mm long, membranous, without keels, 3–5
-nerved. Florets. Basal sterile florets 1, barren, with palea. Lemma of
lower sterile floret 100 % of length of spikelet, membranous, 3–5 -nerved.
Fertile lemma 4.9–6.1
mm long, without keel, 3 -nerved.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland.
Western Australia:
Gardner, Fitzgerald. Northern Territory: Darwin & Gulf, Victoria
River. Queensland: Cook, North Kennedy.
Notes. Commonly
3 spikelets are surrounded by the involucre of flattened bristles. The central
spikelet is fully formed whereas the lateral spikelets are morphologically and
sexually reduced. The central spikelet only was used in the above description.
In tropical and
subtropical sub-humid woodlands and coastal grasslands. Flowers Jan.-Aug.
