Derivation
Spartochloa C.E.Hubb., Kew Bull. 7: 308 (1952); from the Greek spartos (Spanish broom) and chloe (grass), referring to the almost leafless habit of the plants.

scirpoidea- similar in habit to Scirpus.

Published in
Kew Bull. 7: 308 (1952).

Habit
Perennial, densely tufted. Cataphylls present. Basal leaf sheaths papery, pallid. Young shoots extravaginal. Culms erect, 50–70 cm tall, wiry. Leaves with blades commonly suppressed, transferring photosynthetic function to sheath and culm. Leaf-sheaths smooth, glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs, 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades disarticulating from the sheaths, triangular to linear, 0.5–3 cm long, 0.5–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade midrib evident. Leaf-blade surface ribbed. Leaf-blade apex acute.

Inflorescence
Inflorescence solid, a panicle. Panicle contracted, linear, 3–23 cm long, 0.8–1.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed, simple, 0.3–2 cm long, bearing 1–5 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches stiff (on a stiff central axis), terete.

Spikelets
Spikelets appressed, solitary. Pedicels filiform, terete, eglandular, smooth. Fertile spikelets many flowered, comprising 4–8 fertile florets, with diminished florets at the apex, oblong, laterally compressed, 6–10 mm long, breaking up at maturity. Spikelets disarticulating below each fertile floret. Rhachilla internodes eventually visible between lemmas.

Glumes
Glumes similar, subequal in width, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, 2.8 mm long, equalling upper glume, membranous, 3-nerved. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate, 75% of length of adjacent fertile lemma, membranous, 3-nerved. Upper glume apex acute.

Florets
Fertile lemma ovate, laterally compressed, 3.5–4.5 mm long, cartilaginous, 5–7-nerved. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma apex acute. Palea linear or elliptic or oblong, 2.8 mm long, 100% of length of lemma, 2-nerved. Palea surface glabrous. Palea apex obtuse. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped. Lodicules 2, cuneate, fleshy. Anthers 3, 2.3 mm long. Grain with adherent pericarp, ovoid, trigonous, not grooved, 1.5 mm long. Endosperm farinose.

Continental Distribution:
Australasia.

Australian Distribution:
Western Australia: Drummond, Menzies, Eyre, Roe, Avon, Coolgardie.

Classification. (GPWG 2001):
Centothecoideae. Later evidence has prompted us to place it in the Centothecoideae.

Notes
Restricted to the semi-arid southern margins of W.A., edges of Casuarina thickets on flat brown clays. Flowers Sep.–Oct.