Periballia minuta* (L.) Aschers. & Graebn. .Syn. Mitteleur. Fl. 2: 298 (1899).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae.
Tribe Poeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Aira minuta
L., Sp. Pl. 1: 64 (1753).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: LT: Loefling s.n., Spain: near Madrid
(LINN-85.4). LT designated by Scholz in Cafferty et al., Taxon 49(2):
244 (2000).
Recent synonyms:
Mollineriella minuta, Molineria minuta.
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South
Australia (238), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales (302 as Molinieriella), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora
of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (153 as Molinieriella).
Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (237, fig. 181), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs,
R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn
(302 as Molinierella), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A:
Poaceae 2 (138, Fig.21 as Molinierella).
Habit. Annual.
Culms erect or decumbent, 3–20 cm tall, 1–2 -noded. Leaves cauline. Ligule an
eciliate membrane, 1–2.5 mm long, entire or bilobed, obtuse. Leaf-blades 1–4 cm
long, 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle ovate, 1.2–4.3 cm long, 1.2–4 cm
wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets, comprising 2 fertile floret(s), without rachilla extension, elliptic,
laterally compressed, 1.5–2 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, shiny. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1
-nerved. Upper glume lanceolate or elliptic, 1.3–1.7 mm long, membranous,
keeled, 1-keeled, 1–3 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 1.3–1.8 mm long, without keel, 5–7 -nerved. Lemma surface
indumented. Lemma apex muticous. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, and Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales,
Victoria.
Western Australia:
Irwin, Drummond, Dale, Avon. South Australia: Flinders Ranges, Northern
Lofty, Murray, Southern Lofty, South-eastern. New South Wales:
South-Western Slopes, South-Western Plains. Victoria: Gippsland Plain,
Grampians, Midlands, Riverina, Volcanic Plain, Wimmera.
Notes. Callus hairs much
shorter than as described in Fl. Europ., and anthers much shorter 0.9–1 mm in
Fl Eur. Resembles Aira.
Native to the Mediterranean. Dry,
open habitats, often on sand and tolerating somewhat saline conditions,
commonly a weed of pasture or disturbed woodland. Flowers Aug.-Oct.
