Baloskion tetraphyllum (Labill.) B.G.Briggs & L.A.S.Johnson APNI* Synonyms: Restio tetraphyllus APNI*
Description: Dioecious perennial herb; rhizome shortly creeping, up to 10 mm diam.
Culms with numerous, whorled, finely divided lateral sterile branches; culms erect, usually 50–160 cm high, c. 1.5–5.0 mm diam. Sheaths closely appressed, 15–30 mm long; lamina absent or to 15 mm long on juvenile shoots.
Spikelets varying from few to 400, on filiform peduncles in a narrow loose terminal panicle. Male spikelets globose, 2.5–7 mm long; flowering glumes c. 1–4 mm long, ovate, mucronate or aristate. Male tepals 6; stamens 3. Female spikelets ovate to elliptic, c. 3.5–10 mm long; flowering glumes very broad ovate, aristate. Female tepals 4; staminodes 2.
Distribution and occurrence: Widespread in coastal regions. Also in Qld, Vic, Tas, SA. In swampy and on river banks.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC
Other Australian states: Qld Vic. Tas. S.A.
Text by A. L. Quirico & B. G. Briggs (1993); edited KL Wilson (Feb 2016)
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW vol 4 (1993) (as Restio tetraphyllus)
| | Key to the subspecies | |
| 1 | Panicle with 15–200 spikelets. Male spikelets 4–7 mm long; flowering glumes 2.8–3.7 mm long. Female spikelets 8–10 mm long; glumes c. 4.5–6 mm long | subsp. tetraphyllum |
| Panicles with usually 200–450 spikelets. Male spikelets 2.5–5 mm long; flowering glumes 1–2 mm long. Female spikelets 3.5–6 mm long; glumes 2.5–3.6 mm long | subsp. meiostachyum |
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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