Gahnia aspera
Content
Description
Leaves longer than the stems, strongly narrowed from a broader base, with scabrous inroiled margins;
Inflorescence spike-like, oblong, subcylindrical, rigid, dense at the top, usually slightly interrupted at the base, (5-)10-25 cm by 3-5 cm, consisting of 7-10 fascicles of short (2-3½ cm long), dense, oblong to oblong-ovoid secondary panicles;
Stamens 4-6;
Distribution
Asia-Tropical: Maluku (Maluku present); New Guinea present, Bonin Is present, Ceram present, Daru I present, Halmaheira present, Hawaiian Islands present, N. and E. Australia present, New Caledonia present, New Hebrides present, Normanby I present, P. Gebe present, P. Rawak present, Pacific: Fiji (Fiji present), S. Papua present, Talaud Is present, Tubuai present, W. New Guinea present, Wassi Kussa present
N. and E. Australia, New Caledonia, New Hebrides, Fiji, Tubuai, and Bonin Is., in Malesia: Moluccas (Talaud Is., Halmaheira, Ceram) and New Guinea (W. New Guinea; S. Papua: Daru I., Wassi Kussa; P. Rawak; P. Gebe; Normanby I.).
In the Hawaiian Islands a morphologically interesting subspecies: G. aspera (R.BR.) SPRENG. subsp. globosa (MANN) KERN (see Notes).
In the Hawaiian Islands a morphologically interesting subspecies: G. aspera (R.BR.) SPRENG. subsp. globosa (MANN) KERN (see Notes).
Notes
KÜKENTHAL referred some of the Malesian specimens to var. rawacensis (KUNTH) , with dense panicle only 5-9 cm long. It seems superfluous to distinguish them nomenclaturally.
HILLEBRAND () interpreted the glumes appressed to the nut of G. aspera subsp. globosa as the remnants of the perianth, KÜKENTHAL () as the remnants of a flower. The latter interpretation must be wrong, as in G. beecheyi MANN, a close ally of G. aspera, similar glumes are found, here with gradual transitions to hypogenous bristles.
The record “Celebes, Elphinstone's Bay”, sine coll., cf. , must be erroneous.
HILLEBRAND () interpreted the glumes appressed to the nut of G. aspera subsp. globosa as the remnants of the perianth, KÜKENTHAL () as the remnants of a flower. The latter interpretation must be wrong, as in G. beecheyi MANN, a close ally of G. aspera, similar glumes are found, here with gradual transitions to hypogenous bristles.
The record “Celebes, Elphinstone's Bay”, sine coll., cf. , must be erroneous.
Citation
KERN 1958: p. 229. – In: Blumea. f. 3
Clarke 1909: Ill. Cyp. f. 1-4
SPRENG. 1940: p. 176. – In: Bot. Arch. f. 8, 9C
F.v.M. 1890 – In: Descr. Not. p 69
BENL 1937: p. 373. – In: Flora. f. 1-4
BOECK. 1874 – In: Linnaea. p 344
S. T. BLAKE 1948 – In: J. Arn. Arb. p 99
Miq. 1856 – In: Fl. Ind. Bat. p 340
KÜK. 1943 – In: Fedde, Rep. 52. p 92
Benth. 1878 – In: Fl. Austr. p 412