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Telopea 9(2): 2001 
8. Desmocladus parthenicus B.G. Briggs & L.A.S. Johnson, sp. nov. 
A D. fasciculatus et D. castaneus combinatione characterum sequentium distinguitur: 
plantae parthenocarpae; ramuli numerosi (c. 40 in quoque nodo); spiculae sessiles. 
A D. fasciculatus etiam habitu caespitoso distinguitur. 
Type: Western Australia: 3 km N of New Badgingarra on Brand Hwy, just S of Hill R. 
crossing (30°22'S 115°30’E), 25 Sep 1976, B.G. Briggs 6323 ? (holo NSW; iso PERTH, 
RSA). 
Caespitose; plants all female. Culms unbranched but with clusters of c. 40 branchlets 
at most nodes, erect, terete, minutely tuberculate, pubescent, to 40 cm tall, 1.0-1.4(-2.5) mm 
diam.; internodes 5-17, 1-6 cm long, often largely exposed and not hidden by 
branchlets; branchlets numerous, straight to reflexed, slender, to 2.5 cm long, laterally 
flattened and rectangular or narrow deltoid in section. Basal sheaths short, to 10 mm 
long. Culm sheaths 7-13 mm long, sparsely pilose, often reflexed, lamina erect, 2-6 mm 
long. Female spikelets mostly sessile among the bases of branchlets, numerous at each 
culm node, occasionally terminal on branchlets, ovoid, 4.0-6.0 mm long, 1-flowered; 
glumes 4-6, broad-ovate, obtuse, 1.7-3.0 mm long, straw-coloured, abaxial surface 
glabrous or pilose, mucro to 0.8 mm long; the uppermost glume imbricate and 
persistent around the fruit after dehiscence forming a striate cone-like cap or coat. 
Female flowers lacking tepals. Nut ellipsoid, c. 2.0 mm long, shed enclosed in the 
innermost glume, with a short stipe below that glume and also a very short stipe 
below the ovary. Setting abundant seed apomictically (parthenocarpic); male plants 
not known. (Fig. 6h, 6i). 
The epithet is from the Greek parthenos, a virgin, referring to the parthenogenetic 
breeding system. 
Distribution: occurs in Western Australia from near Kalbarri, inland and south to 
Tambellup, Ongerup, east of Lake King and near Mt Ragged. Locally frequent to 
occasional in heath and woodland on sands in low rainfall regions; sites seasonally 
moist. Regenerates by seed after fire (Meney, Pate & Hickman 1999). 
Conservation status: widespread and common. 
Distinguished from D. fasciculatus (Figs 5b, 6a) and D. castaneus (Figs 5a, 6b, 6c) by the 
dense clusters of numerous (c. 40 per node) branchlets, the mostly sessile spikelets and 
parthenogenetic breeding system (Pate & Meney 1999). Distinguished also from 
D. fasciculatus by the tufted habit and lack of an elongated basal culm intemode. 
Selected specimens examined (all $): Western Australia: Irwin: 10.5 km E of Kalbarri, 24 Oct 1981, 
Nezvbey 9362 (PERTH); 3.7 km from Baline on road to Binnu, 13 Aug 1991, Briggs 8880 & Johnson 
(NSW); Burma Rd' c. 30 miles [48 km[ SE of Geraldton, 29 Sep 1962, Phillips 1563 (CANB, NSW); 
c. 29 km W of Mingenew on Dongara Rd, 1 Oct 1979, Wilson 2673 (NSW); Strawberry-Walkaway 
Rd, 46 km S of Walkaway, 28 Sep 1976, Briggs 6420 (NSW, AD, MEL, PERTH); Coomallo picnic area, 
24 km NNW of Badgingarra opp. junction of Brand Hwy and Jurien Rd, 29 Sep 1984, Briggs 7486 
& Johnson (NSW); Watheroo Natl Park, W of Watheroo, 6 Oct 1971, Royce 9631 (PERTH). Darling: 
4.5 km W of Mogumber on Regans Ford Rd, 2 Oct 1984, Briggs 7789 & Johnson (NSW). Avon: 
5.5 km N of Wongan Hills on Craig Rd, 2 Nov 1988, Briggs 8552 & Johnson (NSW, K, PERTH); 15 
miles [24 km] S of Tammin, 2 Aug 1968, Royce 8444 (PERTH); Tutaruiing Reserve, 32 km ENE of 
Pingelly (Possum Rd near Echidna Rd), 4 Sep 1966, Briggs 183 (NSW, BRI, CANB, HO, K, L, NBG); 
10 km WNW of Jitaming, 13 Jan 1978, Hnatiuk 780070 (PERTH); Near Lime Lake c. 13 km S of 
Wagin, 30 Aug 1959, Eichler 15873 (AD). Roe: c. 16 miles [26 km] SE of Ongerup, 13 Sep 1966, Briggs 
481 (NSW, A, CANB, US); Between Gibson and Salmon Gums near 531 mile peg, 8 Sep 1966, Briggs 
307 (NSW). 
