Derivation
Aira L., Sp. Pl. 63 (1753); Classical Greek name for darnel or possibly another species of Lolium. Name now applied to quite a separate genus.

provincialis- from the Latin provincia (province) and -alis (pertaining to). Relating to a province, in particular to Provencia, now Provence, France.

Published in
Bull. Soc. Bot. Fr. 12: 84 (1865).

Habit
Annual, tufted. Culms erect or geniculately ascending, slender, 10–50 cm tall. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 2–11 mm long, acute. Leaf-blades filiform, flat or convolute, 2–4 cm long, 0.3–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous or scabrous, glabrous. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

Inflorescence
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle open, obovate, effuse, 4–22 cm long, 2–5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches branching dichotomously. Panicle branches capillary, terete, smooth.

Spikelets
Spikelets solitary. Pedicels filiform, terete, 14–21 mm long, 20–60% of length of fertile spikelet, tip widened (gradually). Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, comprising 2 fertile florets, without rhachilla extension, oblong, laterally compressed, 3.5 mm long, breaking up at maturity. Spikelets disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes suppressed between florets (florets arising at about the same level). Floret callus pubescent.

Glumes
Glumes persistent, similar, thinner than fertile lemma, shiny, gaping. Lower glume ovate, 3.5 mm long, equalling upper glume, membranous, 1-keeled, 1-nerved, midnerve scaberulous. Lower glume lateral nerves absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate, 3.5 mm long, 150% of length of adjacent fertile lemma, membranous, 1-keeled, 1-nerved, midnerve scaberulous. Upper glume lateral nerves absent. Upper glume apex acute.

Florets
Fertile florets with the lowest dissimilar. Lowest lemma muticous or awned (shorter than upper). Fertile lemma ovate, laterally compressed, lanceolate in profile, 2.5 mm long, cartilaginous, 5-nerved. Lemma lateral nerves obscure. Lemma surface scabrous. Lemma margins involute, covering most of palea. Lemma apex dentate, 2-fid, 1-awned. Median (principal) awn dorsal, arising 25% way up back of lemma, geniculate, 2.5 mm long overall, clearly exserted from spikelet (upper) or not or scarcely exserted from spikelet (lower), with a twisted column. Lodicules 2, lanceolate, membranous. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

Continental Distribution:
Europe, Australasia.

Australian Distribution:
New South Wales: Central Tablelands.

Classification. (GPWG 2001):
Pooideae: Aveneae

Notes
Introduced. In the Blue Mtns, N.S.W. Native of Europe. Naturalised in parkland and disturbed woodland. Flowers spring-summer.

Return to Top