Cenchrus caliculatus Cav. Icon.
Descr. Pl. 5: 39 (1799).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Panicoideae. Paniceae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Society Islands: Baba, Née s.n. (HT: MA)
"Amicorum insula" = Friendly Islands ?.
Recent synonyms:
C. australis.
Key references
(books and floras): [1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus (197 as Cenchrus
australis), [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (497as Cenchrus
australis), [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 (179).
Illustrations:
[1984] N.T.Burbidge. rev. S.W.L.Jacobs, Australian Grasses (87), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley &
D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn (179).
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present. Stolons present. Culms stature robust to moderate,
40–200(–300) cm tall. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of
hairs, 1–1.6 mm long. Leaf-blades 14–56 cm long, 3–19 mm wide. Leaf-blade
surface scabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, of only a few spikelets (spicate). Panicle linear, loose
(internodes 1–3.2mm), 8.2–23.5 cm long, 1–2.8 cm wide. Racemes 8.2–23.5 cm
long, 1–2.8 mm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile, 1–3 in the cluster. Involucre composed of bristles, connate
into a disc below. 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, ovate, dorsally
compressed, 3.8–6.5 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, membranous, without keels, 1
-nerved. Upper glume ovate, 2.4–4.8 mm long, membranous, without keels, 3–5
-nerved. Florets. Basal sterile florets 1, barren, with palea. Lemma of
lower sterile floret 100 % of length of spikelet, membranous, 5 -nerved.
Fertile lemma 3.8–6.1
mm long, without keel, 3 -nerved.
Continental
Distribution: Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia, and Pacific.
Australian
Distribution: Queensland, New South Wales, Norfolk I.
Queensland:
Burke, Burnett, Cook, Darling Downs, Moreton, North Kennedy, Port Curtis, South
Kennedy, Wide Bay, Leichhardt. New South Wales: North Coast, Central
Coast, South Coast, Northern Tablelands, Central Tablelands, North-Western
Slopes, Central-Western Slopes, South-Western Slopes.
Notes. In
tropical and subtropical wet sclerophyll forests, dry sclerophyll forests,
tropical and subtropical sub-humid woodlands, temperate sub-humid woodlands,
and arid and semi-arid low woodlands. Flowers Dec.-May.
