Elytrophorus spicatus (Willd.) A.Camus |
Common name
Spikegrass
Derivation
Elytrophorus P.Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr. 67 (1812); from Greek elytrion
(sheath or husk) and phoras (bearing), referring to the large outer glume.
spicatus- from the Latin spica (thorn) and -ata (possessing). Inflorescence a spike or spicate panicle.
Published in
Fl. Gen. Indo-Chine 7: 547 (1923).
Habit
Annual. Culms erect, 560 cm tall. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades
525 cm long, 26 mm wide.
Inflorescence
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle glomerate, linear, continuous or
interrupted, 230 cm long, (0.3)0.50.7 cm wide.
Spikelets
Spikelets subtended by an involucre. Involucre composed of imperfect spikelets.
Companion spikelets represented by single glumes, linear, 12 mm long,
as long as or longer than fertile, persistent. Companion spikelet glumes membranous,
1-nerved, truncate, awned. Companion spikelet glumes with 0.51 mm long
awn. Fertile spikelets many flowered, comprising 37 fertile florets, with
diminished florets at the apex, ovate, laterally compressed, 25 mm long,
breaking up at maturity. Spikelets disarticulating below each fertile floret.
Glumes
Glumes persistent, similar to each other and to fertile lemma in texture. Lower
glume lanceolate, 12.2 mm long, equalling upper glume, membranous, light
brown, 1-nerved. Lower glume lateral nerves absent. Lower glume apex acuminate,
awned. Lower glume awn 0.51 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate, 11.5
mm long, membranous, 1-keeled, 1-nerved. Upper glume lateral nerves absent.
Upper glume apex acuminate, awned. Upper glume awn 0.51 mm long.
Florets
Fertile lemma ovate, 11.5 mm long, membranous, 3-nerved. Lemma midnerve
ciliate. Lemma surface villous. Lemma margins ciliate. Lemma apex acuminate,
1-awned. Median (principal) awn 12.2 mm long overall, 12.2 mm long.
Palea elliptic or ovate or orbicular, 11.3 mm long, 2-nerved. Palea keels
winged, with toothed wings. Palea surface glabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling
fertile though underdeveloped. Lodicules 1 or 2. Anthers 13, 0.20.4
mm long. Stigmas 2, sparsely hairy. Grain with free soft pericarp, 0.50.9
mm long.
Continental Distribution:
Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia.
Australian Distribution:
Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland, New South
Wales.
Western Australia: Gardner, Fitzgerald, Hall, Dampier, Canning, Keartland, Carnegie, Fortescue, Ashburton, Austin, Carnarvon. Northern Territory: Darwin & Gulf, Victoria River, Barkly Tableland, Central Australia North. South Australia: North-western, Lake Eyre, Eastern, Murray. Queensland: Cook, Burke, North Kennedy, South Kennedy, Port Curtis, Leichhardt, Darling Downs, Gregory North, Mitchell, Warrego, Maranoa. New South Wales: North-Western Plains.
Classification. (GPWG
2001):
Danthonioideae: Danthonieae
Notes
Native. Widespread in the semi-arid parts of southern Africa through Asia to
Australia in damp soil. Flowers April, May, June, and July.
Habit (photo)
© S. Jacobs