Aristida burbidgeae B.K.Simon. Austrobaileya
2: 89 (1984).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Aristidoideae. Aristideae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Western Australia: Fortescue District: Mount Edgar,
SE from Marble Bar. 11 Jun 1941, N. T. Burbidge 1111 (HT: PERTH(photo,
BRI); IT: PERTH).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia.
Illustrations:
[2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of Australia 44B: Poaceae 3 (Fig.
20P-R).
Derivation: in
honor of Nancy Tyson Burbidge (1912–1977) Australian botanist.
Habit.
Perennial. Culms 20–45 cm tall, 3 -noded. Mid-culm internodes glabrous. Lateral
branches branched. Ligule a fringe of hairs, 0.4 mm long. Leaf-blades flexuous,
conduplicate or involute or convolute, 5–10 cm long, 1 mm wide.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle or a panicle. Panicle linear, 8–17 cm long,
0.5–1 cm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate, terete, 9 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous,
keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, 9 mm long, membranous,
keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume surface asperulous or scabrous. Upper
glume apex entire.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 8 mm long, without keel, 3 -nerved. Lemma apex awned, 3 -awned.
Median (principal) awn without a column. Lateral lemma awns present. Palea
without keels. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia.
Western Australia:
Fortescue, Ashburton.
Notes.
A. burbidgeae differs from A. latzii by a distinctive marginal
band of spines running the length of an otherwise smooth lemma.
Restricted
to the Pilbarra region of Western Australia. "Growing among
boulders". Flowering and fruiting February to March, June, August.
