Aristida leptopoda Benth. Fl.
Austral. 7: 562 (1878).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Aristidoideae. Aristideae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: LT: Leichardt s.n., Australia: New South Wales:
Central Coast, Liverpool Plains (K). LT
designated by Simon, Austr. Syst. Bot. 5: 206 (1992).
Key references
(books and floras): [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (562),
[1981] M.Lazarides in J.Jessop (ed)., Flora of Central Australia (451),
[2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia, [2008]
S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales
(129).
Illustrations:
[1983] J.C.Tothill & J.B.Hacker, Grasses of Southern Queensland
(104(21)), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales, 4th edn (129).
Derivation: Gk.
leptos, slender; pous, foot. Pedicel slender.
Habit.
Perennial. Culms 30–65 cm tall, 1–3 -noded. Mid-culm internodes glabrous.
Lateral branches branched or fastigiate. Ligule a fringe of hairs, 0.5–1 mm
long. Leaf-blades straight, flat or conduplicate or involute or convolute,
15–30 cm long, 3.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle ovate, effuse, 14–25 cm long, 12–23
cm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate, terete, 9–22 mm long.
Glumes.
Glumes similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous,
keeled, 1-keeled, 1–3 -nerved. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex
mucronate. Upper glume lanceolate, 9–22 mm long, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled,
1–3 -nerved. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex entire or erose,
mucronate.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 12–17 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. Grain 8–10.5 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian Distribution:
Queensland, New South Wales.
Queensland:
Burke, Burnett, Darling Downs, Leichhardt,
Maranoa, Mitchell, North Kennedy, Port Curtis, Warrego, Cook, South Kennedy. New South Wales:
North-Western Slopes, North-Western Plains.
Notes.
A. leptopoda is an open headed species differing from A. behriana
and A. obscura by a larger panicle with the branches naked at the base.
It is also similar to A. lazaridis but for the convolute lemma.
Found
mainly on cracking clay soils from central and southern Queensland
to northern New South Wales.
A major problem to the pastoral industry on the Mitchell grass (Astrebla
spp) grasslands (Filet 1990). Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla), Eucalyptus,
blue-grass downs (Dichanthium spp.), and Mitchell grass (Astrebla
spp) communities on clays and loams. Flowering and fruiting November to July,
September (one record).