Common name: Rigid Fescue
Catapodium rigidum (L.) C.E.Hubb. APNI* Synonyms: Desmazeria rigida (L.) Tutin APNI*
Description: Small glabrous annual to 0.3 m high; culms rigid, erect or spreading, usually geniculate at the base, 2–5-noded.
Leaves with ligule membranous, acute, to 3 mm long; blade to 3 mm wide, finely nerved, scabrid, glabrous.
Inflorescence contracted, stiff, 2–11 cm long, bearing spikelets almost to the base. Spikelets oblong, 4–11 mm long, 3–10-flowered, Glumes pointed, lower lanceolate, 1–3-nerved, upper elliptic, 3-nerved. Lemmas exserted from glumes, 2–2.5 mm long, faintly 5-nerved, almost smooth; margins narrow, translucent. Paleas subequal to lemmas, keels scabrid.
Flowering: spring.
Distribution and occurrence: Widespread but often as scattered individuals, especially in disturbed areas. Native of Eur. & Asia.
NSW subdivisions: *NC, *CC, *SC, *NWS, *CWS, *SWP, *NFWP, *LHI
Other Australian states: Vic. Tas. S.A. W.A.
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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