Anthosachne kingiana (Endl.) Govaerts, subsp. multiflora (Banks & Sol. ex Hook. f.) Govaerts, J. Bot. S. Aus..
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Triticeae.
Basionym and/or Replacement Name: Triticum multiflorum Banks & Sol. ex Hook. f., Fl. Nov.-Zel. 1: 311 (1853).
Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: LT: J. Banks & D. Solander s.n., 1769, New Zealand: Mercury Bay (BM). LT designated by Connor, New Zealand J. Bot. 32: 134 (1994).
Recent synonyms: Elymus multiflorus (Banks & Sol. ex Hook. f.) Á. Löve & Connor.
Key references (books and floras): [1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus (178 as Triticum scabrum), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (263), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales (237), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (97 as var. multiflorus).
Illustrations: [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (264, fig. 204 as var. multiflorus), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn (237).
Habit. Perennial. Culms erect or geniculately ascending, 16–70 cm tall. Leaf-sheath auricles absent, or present. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 0.3–0.6 mm long, membranous, truncate. Leaf-blades erect or drooping, flat, 4.1–28.5 cm long, 1.8–6.8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous.
Inflorescence. Inflorescence solid, a raceme. Racemes 1, 7–15 cm long, bearing (3–)6–11(–18) fertile spikelets on each.
Spikelets. Spikelets sessile. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile florets (6–12), comprising 6–12 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the apex, elliptic to oblong, laterally compressed, 10–39 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes similar. Lower glume subulate or lanceolate or ovate, chartaceous or coriaceous, without keels, 3–7 -nerved. Lower glume apex muticous or awned. Upper glume lanceolate, 8–10 mm long, coriaceous, without keels, 3–7 -nerved.
Florets. Fertile lemma 6.5–13 mm long, keeled, 5 -nerved. Lemma apex muticous or mucronate or awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn 1–16 mm long overall. Lodicules present. Anthers 3.
Continental Distribution: Australasia.
Australian Distribution: Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Norfolk I, Lord Howe.
Queensland: Burnett, Darling Downs, Leichhardt, Maranoa, Moreton, Warrego, Wide Bay. New South Wales: Northern Tablelands, Southern Tablelands. Victoria: East Gippsland, Gippsland Plain, Riverina.
Notes. Sparsely but wide-spread species. Specimens from coastal area of N.S.W., Vic., S.A., and Tas. differ from those from inland of northern N.S.W., and SE Qld. The former possess very short awns or awnless (average awn length: 0–7(-11.5) mm, mean: 5.4 mm), the latter, however, have longer awns (average: 4.4–16 mm, mean: 10.34 mm). Connor (1994) discussed the same confusion in New Zealand plants.
Found in SE Qld, eastern N.S.W., Vic, and Tas., usually from sand dunes of foreshore, river bank, or some inland area. Also in New Zealand.
Basionym and/or Replacement Name: Triticum kingianum Endl., Prodr. Fl. Norfolk. 21 (1833).
Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: HT: F.L.Bauer s.n., Norfolk Island (W).
Recent synonyms: Elymus multiflorus var. kingianus (Endl.) Connor.
Australian Distribution: Norfolk I, Lord Howe.