Astrebla squarrosa C. E.Hubbard. Bull.
Misc. Inform. 259
(1928).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Chloridoideae. Cynodonteae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia: Queensland: Longreach, Apr 1913, Bick
s.n..
Key references
(books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (202), [1981] M.Lazarides in J.Jessop (ed)., Flora of
Central Australia (448), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass,
Grasses of Australia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses
of South Australia (341), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley &
D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales (137).
Illustrations:
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (203,
Pl. 60), [2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of Australia 44B: Poaceae 3
(Fig. 81A-D), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South
Australia (341, Fig. 273), [2008]
S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales,
4th edn (137).
Derivation: L.
spreading at right angles from a common axis. Inflorescence arms held at right
angles to common axis.
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present, short. Culms erect, 20–150 cm tall. Lateral
branches branched. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat or conduplicate,
7–40(–50) cm long, 3–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a raceme. Racemes 1, (4–)7–18 cm long, 15–30 mm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets (2–4), comprising 2–4 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at the
apex, ovate, laterally compressed, 8–25 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
dissimilar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, chartaceous,
keeled, 1-keeled, 1–3 -nerved. Lower glume apex mucronate. Upper glume
elliptic, 6–11 mm long, chartaceous, without keels, 9–11 -nerved. Upper glume
apex mucronate.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 4.5–7 mm long, without keel, 3 -nerved (in the body). Lemma
surface indumented. Lemma apex lobed, awned, 3 -awned. Median (principal) awn 5
mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns present. Palea apex lobed. Lodicules
present. Anthers 3. Grain 2.5–3 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia,
Queensland, New South Wales.
Western Australia:
Gardner, Fitzgerald, Hall. Northern Territory: Darwin & Gulf,
Victoria River, Barkly Tableland. South Australia: Lake Eyre, Flinders
Ranges. Queensland: Burke, Cook, Gregory North, Leichhardt, Maranoa,
Mitchell, North Kennedy, Port Curtis, South Kennedy, Warrego. New South
Wales: North-Western Plains.
Notes.
Distributed from the Kimberley region of W.A. across the northern part of the
N.T. and through most of Qld, just reaching northern N.S.W. and the NE corner
of S.A. It usually occurs as a minor element in communities dominated by A.
lappacea or A. pectinata and reaches its highest frequency on
lower-lying ground which receives run-off from adjacent areas. On the Barkly
Tableland A. squarrosa extends farther N to higher rainfall areas than
either A. pectinata or A. elymoides and in these areas it
sometimes occurs as relatively pure stands. It has been reported from heavy,
cracking clays of all colours on plains and river flats, sometimes with Lysiphyllum
or Excoecaria, or in Dicanthium-Eulalia grassland and cleared
Brigalow areas; flowers after rain.
