PlantNET Home DONATE TODAY | PlantNET Home | Search NSW Flora | Contact Us  
FloraOnline
Introduction
Plant Name Search
Index Search
Spatial Search
Identification Keys
Classification
Glossary
WeedAlert
Telopea Journal
Other Data Sources
NEW SOUTH WALES FLORA ONLINE Printable Page

Genus Hyparrhenia Family Poaceae

Description: Coarse, tufted perennials or annuals, with erect branched stems.

Leaves with ligule membranous with tufts of hairs at each side; blade hairy or glabrous.

Inflorescence of few–many pairs of spatheate racemes, usually in a narrow panicle.

Spikelets in pairs, 1 sessile, usually awned, fertile, the other pedicellate and male or sterile, awnless, spikelets of the lowest pair(s) on a raceme similar, sterile or male, awnless; spikelet pairs falling with an axis joint. Sessile spikelets 1–few in each raceme, flattened on the back, base elongated into a hairy, often sharp callus. Glumes equal, without distinct keels, hairy. Lemmas 2, the lower as long as the glumes; fertile lemma small, with a hairy, geniculate awn 4–6 cm long. Palea usually absent. Pedicellate spikelets usually slightly longer than the fertile spikelets, with or without a male floret, awnless.


Distribution and occurrence: World: c. 55 species, mainly Africa. Australia: 3 species (2 species native, 1 species naturalized), all mainland States except Vic.

Text by S. W. L. Jacobs & C. A. Wall
Taxon concept:

 Key to the species 
1Each raceme with 9 or 10 awned spikeletsHyparrhenia rufa
Each raceme with less than 9 awned spikelets2
2Each raceme with 5–7 awned spikelets, the awns 1.5–3.5 cm long; plants usually less than 1 m highHyparrhenia hirta
Each raceme with 1 or 2 awned spikelets, the awns c. 4–5 cm long; plants 1–1.5 m high
                       Back to 1
Hyparrhenia filipendula

  Privacy | Copyright | Disclaimer | About PlantNET | Cite PlantNET