Family: Poaceae
Eriachne helmsii
Citation:
Hartley, J. Linn. Soc.(Bot.) 52:346 (1942).
Synonymy: E. mucronata sensu J. Black, Fl. S. Aust. 71 (1922), non R. Br.; E. mucronata R. Br. var. helmsii Domin, Biblthca bot. 85:361 (1915).
Common name: Woollybutt wanderrie, buck wanderrie grass.
Description:
Coarse perennial, erect or spreading or sometimes decumbent, forming loose straggly tussocks 45-90 cm high and to 75 cm wide; base densely woolly, thickened; leaves 2.5-10 cm long, flat or narrowly rolled, stiffly spreading, firmly pointed, somewhat rough.
Panicle narrow, exserted, 5-11 cm long, 1-2 cm broad; spikelets 5-6 mm long, on pedicels 2-4 mm long, with 2 florets; glumes pale or straw-coloured, nearly as long as the spikelet, glabrous, 9-13-nerved; lemma rather longer than the glumes, exserted, almost obtuse at the summit, with a minute mucro and 2 minute terminal rounded lobes.
Published illustration:
Lazarides (1970) The grasses of Central Australia, pl. 45a; Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 106.
Distribution:
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Common in central Australia on a wide range of soils.
S.Aust.: NW, LE, NU, GT, EP. W.Aust.; N.T.; Qld; N.S.W.
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Conservation status:
native
Flowering time: April — July.
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SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia
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Biology:
Often heavily grazed despite unpalatable appearance.
Author:
Not yet available
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