Aira cupaniana* Guss. Fl. Sic.
Syn.1: 148 (1843). Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae.
Tribe Poeae.
Common name:
Silver Hair Grass, Silvery Hair Grass.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Itay: Sicily,.
Key references
(books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (39), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2002] J.Wheeler, N.Marchant & M.Lewington, Flora of the
South West (396), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of
South Australia (188), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley &
D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales (112), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora
of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (263).
Illustrations:
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (38,
Pl. 9), [1983] J.C.Tothill & J.B.Hacker, Grasses of Southern Queensland
(86), [1984] N.T.Burbidge. rev. S.W.L.Jacobs, Australian Grasses (43), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass,
Grasses of Australiia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses
of South Australia (188, Fig. 136),
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales, 4th edn (112), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A:
Poaceae 2 (260, Fig.35).
Derivation:
from the Latin -ana (indicating connection). In honour of Francesco
Cupani (1657–1780), Italian botanist, cleric and physician.
Habit. Annual.
Culms erect or geniculately ascending, 10–40 cm tall, 2–3 -noded. Leaves mostly
basal or cauline. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 1–6.2 mm long. Leaf-blades
conduplicate or involute, 1–9.5 cm long, 0.3–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface
indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle ovate, 2–12 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, both fertile, comprising 2
fertile floret(s), without rachilla extension, oblong to ovate, laterally
compressed, 1.3–2.6 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma, shiny. Lower glume ovate, membranous,
keeled, 1-keeled, 1–3 -nerved. Upper glume ovate, 1.3–2.3 mm long, hyaline or
membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1–3 -nerved.
Florets. Fertile
lemma 1.25–2 mm long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Lemma apex dentate, muticous or
awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn dorsal, 1.8–2.5 mm long overall, with a
twisted column. Palea 2 -nerved. Lodicules present. Anthers 3. Grain 1 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Europe, Africa, and Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South
Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, Norfolk I.
Western Australia:
Drummond, Dale, Menzies, Warren, Eyre, Avon. South Australia: Flinders
Ranges, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern
Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South-eastern. Queensland: North Kennedy,
Darling Downs, Moreton. New South Wales: Central Coast, South Coast,
Northern Tablelands, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, Central-Western
Slopes, South-Western Slopes, North-Western Plains, South-Western Plains. Victoria:
East Gippsland, Eastern Highlands, Gippsland Plain, Grampians, Lowan Mallee,
Midlands, Otway Plain, Otway Range, Riverina, Volcanic Plain, Wannon, Wimmera.
Notes. Introduced.
Throughout mainland Australia except the N.T. Native to the Mediterranean. In
disturbed areas or open woodland. Flowers Sept.-Mar.
