Common name
Soft Spinifex
Gummy Spinifex

Derivation
Triodia R.Br., Prodr. 182 (1810); from the Greek treis (three) and odous (tooth), referring to the 3-toothed or 3-lobed lemmas.

pungens- from the Latin pungo (prick). Leaf-blades sharp pointed.

Published in
Prodr. 182 (1810).

Common synonyms
T. pungens var. linearis N.T.Burb.
T. pungens var. pardentata N.T.Burb.

Habit
Perennial, densely tufted. Stolons present. Culms 15–230 cm tall. Leaf-sheaths resinous. Leaf-sheath auricles absent. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blade base without a false petiole. Leaf-blades flexuous or tortuous, aciculate, flat or conduplicate, 34 cm long, 0.8–1.2 mm wide, rigid, without exudate or resinous, without scent. Leaf-blade venation with continuous uniform subepidermal sclerenchyma layer on the underside (except median line). Leaf-blade apex pungent.

Inflorescence
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle open or contracted, linear or pyramidal, 14–27(–37) cm long, 1–2.5(–3.5) cm wide, contracted about primary branches. Panicle branches bearing approximate spikelets or distant spikelets, with prominent pulvini.

Spikelets
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets many flowered, comprising 5–6 fertile florets, with diminished florets at the apex, lanceolate, laterally compressed or terete, 7–12(–16) mm long, breaking up at maturity. Spikelets disarticulating below each fertile floret. Spikelet callus bearded, base obtuse or acute.

Glumes
Glumes persistent, similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong, 3–10 mm long, equalling upper glume, scarious or cartilaginous or indurate, 3–5(–7)-nerved. Lower glume surface glabrous or hirsute. Lower glume apex entire, obtuse or acute or acuminate, muticous or mucronate. Upper glume oblong, 3–10 mm long, 40–60% of length of adjacent fertile lemma, scarious or cartilaginous or indurate, 3–5(–7)-nerved. Upper glume surface glabrous or hirsute. Upper glume apex entire, obtuse or acute or acuminate, muticous or mucronate.

Florets
Fertile lemma oblong, 5–8 mm long, cartilaginous or coriaceous or indurate, keeled above, 9(–12)-nerved. Lemma midnerve eciliate or ciliolate, hairy below. Lemma lateral nerves in close groups (of 3). Lemma surface glabrous or puberulous or hirsute. Lemma margins eciliate or ciliolate, hairy below. Lemma apex entire or lobed, 3-fid, with lobes 1–2.5 mm long, acute, incised 25–50% of lemma length, muticous. Palea 50–75% of length of lemma. Palea keels narrowly winged. Palea surface glabrous. Apical sterile florets resembling fertile though underdeveloped. Anthers 3, 2–3 mm long.

Continental Distribution:
Australasia.

Australian Distribution:
Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland.

Western Australia: Gardner, Fitzgerald, Hall, Mueller, Canning, Keartland, Carnegie, Giles, Helms, Fortescue, Ashburton, Carnarvon. Northern Territory: Darwin & Gulf, Victoria River, Barkly Tableland, Central Australia North, Central Australia South. South Australia: North-western. Queensland: Cook, Burke, North Kennedy, South Kennedy, Port Curtis, Leichhardt, Gregory North, Mitchell, Warrego.

Classification. (GPWG 2001):
Chloridoideae: Triodieae

Notes
Native. On a wide range of deep to skeletal, rocky and gravelly soils. Flowers all seasons.
Distinguished by its linear panicles; usually closely flowered spikelets; sparsely hairy usually deeply lobed lemmas; resinous foliage.