Paspalidium constrictum
(Domin) C.E.Hubb. Knottybutt GrassTufted or rhizomatous perennial. Culms ascending or erect, to 60 cm high. Leaves weakly to strongly scabrous or hairy; blade flat to finely inrolled, to 15 cm long and 4 mm wide; ligule c. 1 mm long. Panicle 5–12 cm long; branches (mostly 5–10 mm long) remaining appressed to the pubescent main axis; pedicels loosely pubescent. Spikelets 2–3 mm long; lower glume minutely hairy, broadly ovate, c. 1.5 mm long, (3–)5(–7)-nerved, the nerves not (or very rarely) coalescing; upper glume broad-elliptic, 7–9-nerved, slightly shorter than the spikelet; lower lemma 5(–7)-nerved, as long as the spikelet, its palea rudimentary or lacking; upper lemma ovate, as long as the spikelet, minutely pointed apically, constricted shortly above base, hardened, shining, coarsely transversely ridged for the greater part, smooth near the apex, margins as hard as body, recurved; palea subequal to lemma, hardened, granular, slightly bulging above base. Flowers Sep.–Apr.
MuM, Wim, VVP, VRiv, MSB, RobP, MuF, Gold, CVU, NIS, EGU. All mainland states. Principally around the Murray in north-western Victoria, but with rare, isolated occurrences in rain-shadow areas of East Gippsland (Snowy and Suggan Buggan rivers) and on the basalt plains west of Melbourne. Occurs in mallee-scrub and Callitris woodland, usually near lakes or rivers and frequently on river cliffs (e.g. limestone cliffs beside Murray River against SA border, Snowy River at Mackillops Bridge, basalt cliffs of Werribee River near Bacchus Marsh).
Walsh, N.G. (1994). Poaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 2, Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and Monocotyledons, pp. 356–627. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
