Common name: Reflexed Panic Grass
Paractaenum novae-hollandiae P.Beauv. APNI* 
Description: Tufted annual to 0.6 m high.
Leaves with ligule membranous, to 1 mm long, with a ciliate rim, hairs to 0.5 mm long; blade to 6 mm wide, lax, glabrous.
Inflorescence a primary axis with 8–11 racemes; axis 11–15 cm long, flattened, to 1 mm wide, glabrous; racemes finally reflexed, 1.5–3.6 cm long, bearing 2–4 spikelets, the lowest spikelet subtended by a bristle 0.8–1.5 cm long; branches flattened, tapering to a bristle. Spikelets 4–5 mm long, appressed, subsessile; florets 2, lower floret sterile, upper floret bisexual. Lower glume 3–4 mm long, obtuse, 3–6-nerved; upper 4.5–5 mm long, acute, many-nerved. Sterile lemma similar to upper glume, 4.5–5 mm long, acute, many-nerved; palea absent to c. 1.5 mm long. Bisexual lemma 3.5–4 mm long, acuminate, hard, apex minutely ciliate; palea subequal to lemma.
Flowering: in response to rain.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows on sandy soil.
NSW subdivisions: NWP, NFWP, SFWP
Other Australian states: Qld W.A. S.A. N.T.
Text by S. W. L. Jacobs & K. L. McClay
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.
|
