P.K. Latz, Fimbrislylis 
165 
Conservation status. Not known, but probably rare, so under the Leigh, Briggs & Hartley (1981) 
convention its status should be IK. 
Etymology. The specific epithet honours Prof R.C. Carolin, who collected the only known 
specimen and who has contributed much towards our knowledge of the Australian Flora. 
5. Fimbristylis composita Latz, sp. nov. (Figure 1) 
Affinis arte Fimbrislylis arthrostyloides W. Fitzg. sed partibus omnibus parvioribus et spiculis 
plus differt, F. thouarsii (Kunth) Merr. aemulans sed glumis spiralibus, nucibus grandioribus, stylo 
longiorc et bracteis involucralibus latioribus recedit. 
Typus: Radon Creek area, 12 km S of Jabiru (12° 45’ S, 132° 54’ E), Northern Territory, 10 June 
1978, P.K. Latz 7686 (holo: DNA; iso: NT). Erect perennial. Often dominant, in sand with 
Eriachne triseta. 
Leafless perennial with short rhizome, roots woolly-tomcntose. Stems densely tufted, terete but 
deeply grooved, densely scabrid to smooLh, (10) 77-155 cm x (0.35) 0.5-1.5 mm; at first erect then 
drooping. Leaves reduced to 2-3 bladelcss sheaths, the lower ones terminating in a short mucro, the 
upper with hyaline margins for c. 1 cm before terminating in a short mucro c. 0.2 mm long, often 
several short, broad stramineous bracts present at base. Inflorescence capitate, depressed globular or 
hemispherical with (6) 20-50 spikelels, up to 1 cm in diameter but sometimes much reduced (rarely 
to a single fully developed spikeiel). Involucral bracts numerous, 10-40, up to 8mm long, scabrid, 
the outer 2 flattened (0.2-0.3 mm broad), the inner ones becoming setaceous. Spikelets sessile, 
eventually falling off as a whole, somewhat compressed, acute, apparently consistently 1 -flowered, 
4. 5- 5. 5 mm long, c. 1 mm wide. Glumes 5(6), spirally arranged, lanceolate, with 3-nerved keel and 
nerveless hyaline margin, at first green on the keel and white on the margin; eventually stramineous 
or light-brown, the lowest 3 awned, scabrid above, the 2 uppermost acute and mostly glabrous. 
Glume 1 (the lowest); 2.5-3.6 mm long, c. 0.5 mm wide, tapering into a 1.0- 1.6 mm long awn, 
scabrid on upper half. Glume 2; 3.0-3.6 mm long, c. 1.0 mm wide, tapering into a 1.2 mm long 
awn, scabrid on upper 1/3. Glume 3\ 3.5-4. 5 mm long, c. 1.5 mm broad, with a 1 mm long awn, 
scabrid on upper half. Glume 4\ 4-5 mm x 1.5-2.2 mm, acute. Glume 5 (fertile glume); 3.5-4.5 x 
1 .5- 2.0 mm, acute; this and glume 4 with minutely ciliolate margins or glabrous. Stamens 3, anthers 
linear with 0.5-0.7 mm long glabrous terminal point, 3.0-3. 5 mm long and c. 0.3 mm wide. Style 
triquetrous, thickened at base, shortly ciliatc on upper half, 4-6 mm long, stigmas 3, ciliolate, about 
half the length of the style. Nut obtusely trigonous or almost rounded, ellipsoid or obovoid, 
conspicuously stipitate, scarcely umbonulatc, rugulosc, pale-brown to silvery-grey, 1.8-3. 0 by 
1.0- 1.2 mm including the 0.5-0.7 mm long stipe, which is brown to yellow-brown. 
Selected specimens from 21 collections examined. NORTHERN TERRITORY: Katherine Gorge 
(14" 19’ S, 132 u 25’ E), 13 Oct. 1946, S.T. Blake 17212 (BRI, DNA); Adelaide River (13° 20’ S, 
131 05’ E), 26 Jan. 1972, N. Byrnes 2476 (CANB n.v., DNA, NT); 44 km SE of Ocnpclli (12 ff 34’ 
S, 133 u 23’ E), 15 June 1978, P.K. Latz 7797 (DNA, NT); Edith Falls (14 ff 11’ S, 132° 11’ E) 18 
June 1978, P.K. Latz 7814 (DNA, NSW); U.D.P. Falls (13 7) 30’ S, 123° 30’ E), 18 Sept. 1984, 
P.K. Latz 9950 (DNA, NSW); Nourlangic Rock (12° 57’ S, 132° 50’ E), 3 May 1972, R. Schodde 
AE 33 (CANB n.v., DNA, NT). 
Distribution and habitat. F. composita is restricted to sandstone ranges east and south-east of 
Darwin, Northern Territory. 
Affinities. This species is similar to F. thouarsii (Kunth) Merr. but differs by its spiral glumes, 
larger nuts, longer style and broader involucral bracts. It is probably more closely related to 
F. arthrostyloides W. Fitz. which is bigger in all parts and has fewer spikelets in the inflorescence. 
(All three species may be better placed in Aclinoschoenus Bcnth). 
