Thyridolepis xerophila (Domin) S. T Blake.
Contr. Queensland Herb.13: 33 (1972).
Classification.
(GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Panicoideae. Neurachneae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Neurachne
xerophila Domin, Biblioth. Bot.85: 284 (1915).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia, Jericho: Domin (PR holo).
Recent synonyms:
Neurachne xerophila.
Key references
(books and floras): [1981] M.Lazarides in J.Jessop (ed)., Flora of
Central Australia (485), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass,
Grasses of Australia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses
of South Australia (506), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley &
D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales (386).
Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (506,Fig. 435), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs,
R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn
(386).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect or geniculately ascending, 15–70 cm tall, 5–9 -noded.
Mid-culm internodes pubescent. Mid-culm nodes pubescent. Ligule a fringe of
hairs, 0.3–0.6 mm long. Leaf-blades flat or involute, 1.5–9 cm long, 1–4 mm
wide.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a raceme. Panicle linear or oblong, 1.5–4 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, lanceolate,
dorsally compressed, 3.9–5.3 mm long. Rhachilla internodes elongated between
glumes.
Glumes.
Glumes dissimilar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong or ovate,
cartilaginous, without keels, 7–9 -nerved. Lower glume surface glabrous. Upper
glume lanceolate, 3.4–4.9 mm long, chartaceous or cartilaginous, without keels,
7–9 -nerved. Upper glume surface glabrous or indumented. Upper glume apex
entire or dentate. Florets. Basal sterile florets 1, barren, without
significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret 60–70 % of length of spikelet,
membranous or chartaceous, 5 -nerved.
Fertile lemma 2.9–4 mm
long, without keel. Palea 2 -nerved. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia,
Queensland, New South Wales.
Western Australia:
Helms. Northern Territory: Central Australia South. South Australia:
North-western. Queensland: Darling Downs, Gregory South, Leichhardt,
Maranoa, Mitchell, South Kennedy, Warrego. New South Wales:
Central-Western Slopes, North-Western Plains.
Notes. In dry
sclerophyll forests, temperate sub-humid woodlands, semi-arid shrub woodlands,
acacia shrublands, and arid hummock grasslands. Flowers sporadically throughout
the year.
