Common name: Slender Barb Grass
Parapholis strigosa (Dumort.) C.E.Hubb. APNI*
Description: Tufted annual to 0.4 m high.
Leaves with ligule membranous, c. 0.5 mm long, with a large tooth at each end; blade flat, folded or rolled when dry, to 2 mm wide, ribbed, midrib prominent, glabrous, margins and upper surface scabrous.
Inflorescence a cylindrical spike, rigid, usually straight, 3–10 cm long, narrow, exserted or enclosed on uppermost sheath. Spikelets of 1 floret, alternate, embedded in rachis, sessile. Glumes equal, 4–6 mm long, hardened, upper margins scabrous, side by side (except terminal spikelet), partially overlapping to appear as 1 lanceolate glume, covering the hollow in the rachis, upper glume gaping at maturity; occasionally on lowest spikelet of an exserted inflorescence glumes membranous, less than half length of hollow, floret much reduced. Lemma 3–5 mm long, faintly 5-nerved. Palea as long as lemma.
Flowering: spring.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in saline areas; south from Balranald. Native of Medit. region.
NSW subdivisions: *SWS, *SWP
Other Australian states: *Vic.
Text by S. W. L. Jacobs & K. L. McClay Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
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