Common name: Reedgrass
Arundinella nepalensis Trin. APNI*
Description: Tufted perennial with erect, cane-like culms to 3 m high.
Leaves with ligule short, densely ciliate; blade rolled in bud, flat or convolute, 3–10 mm wide.
Inflorescence a panicle 10–40 cm long. Spikelets 4–7 mm long, glabrous, callus very short, hairy; florets 2, the upper bisexual, the lower male or sterile, rarely both bisexual. Lower glume 3–5 mm long, acuminate, strongly 3-nerved; upper as long as the spikelet, faintly 5-nerved, 5 mm long. Lower lemma shorter than the upper glume, faintly 5-nerved, similar in texture to the glumes; upper hardened, brownish, faintly 5-nerved, 2–2.5 mm long, 2-toothed, with a slender, geniculate, twisted awn 3–5 mm long arising from the sinus, callus short, obtuse, bearded. Palea usually auriculate at the base.
Flowering: in response to rain.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in dry woodland and grassland, often in drainage ways.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, NT, NWS, CWS, NWP
Other Australian states: Qld W.A. N.T.
Text by S. W. L. Jacobs & S. M. Hastings Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data ***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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