Common name: Squirrel Tail Fescue, Silver Grass
Vulpia bromoides (L.) Gray APNI*
Description: Tufted annual to 0.4 m high.
Leaves with ligule membranous, < 0.5 mm long, obtuse or asymmetric; blade flat or inrolled, c. 2 mm wide, lower surface glabrous with hairs < 0.25 mm long.
Inflorescence contracted, 1-sided, erect or nodding, 2–12 cm long (excluding awns), 0.4–1.3 cm wide (excluding awns), exserted from uppermost sheath at maturity; rachis scabrous, glabrous. Spikelets 6–12 mm long (excluding awns), c. 4 mm wide (excluding awns); florets 4–7, upper 1 or 2 florets reduced; pedicels 0.6–6 mm long, scabrous, glabrous. Lower glume 50–75% length of upper glume, 3–6 mm long; upper 6–8 mm long. Lemmas 5–8 mm long, tapering to awn, rounded on the back, smooth or upper 50% scabrous; awn 5–10 mm long, scabrous. Palea subequal to lemma.
Flowering: spring.
Distribution and occurrence: Widespread in disturbed habitats. Native of Medit. region.
NSW subdivisions: *NC, *CC, *SC, *NT, *CT, *ST, *NWS, *CWS, *SWS, *NWP, *SWP, *NFWP, *LHI
Other Australian states: *Qld *Vic. *Tas. *W.A. *S.A.
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.
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