Australian Tropical Rainforest Plants - Online edition

Panicum chillagoanum B.K.Simon


Grass
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Herbarium specimen. © CSIRO
Family

Simon, B.K. (1992) Austrobaileya 3(40: 596. Type: Queensland. COOK DISTRICT: Chillagoe-Almaden road 8 km from Chillagoe, limestone outcrop, 8 March 1980, B.K.Simon 3556 & J.R.Clarkson (holo: BRI(AQ 381541); iso: BRI,CANB,DNA,K,L,MBA,NSW). Fig. 5.

Stem

Tufted annual with erect culms, 15-60 cm tall, 2-3-noded, with simple lateral branches.

Leaves

Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode. Ligule a fringed membrane, 1 mm long. Leaf-blades linear or triangular, 2-12 cm long, 2-5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose, with tubercle-based hairs. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.

Flowers

Inflorescence a compound open panicle, ovate in outline, 4-25 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading, 3-14 cm long, bearing 15-20 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle axis smooth. Panicle branches bearing distant spikelets, scabrous. Spikelets solitary. Pedicels angular, 3-12 mm long, scabrous. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret, lower floret sterile, upper fertile, without rhachilla extension, lanceolate, dorsally compressed, 2.1-2.7 mm long, 0.8-1 mm wide, falling entire. Rhachilla internodes elongated between glumes. Glumes dissimilar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, 0.9-1.2 mm long, 4half the length of spikelet, membranous, 5-nerved. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate, 2.1-2.7 mm long, same length than spikelet, membranous, 5-nerved. Upper glume apex acuminate. Basal sterile floret 1, without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret similar to upper glume, ovate, equal length of spikelet, membranous, acuminate. Fertile lemma oblong, dorsally compressed, 1.5 mm long, chartaceous or indurate, light brown. Lemma surface smooth. Lemma margins involute. Palea involute, chartaceous or indurate.

Fruit

Caryopsis with very smooth and glossy testa.

Seedlings

Features not available.

Distribution and Ecology

Occurs in a restricted area in NEQ in and around Chillagoe. Altitudinal range from 360-400 m. Grows in vine thicket and wooded grassland on limestone.

RFK Code
4128
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