Ann. Bot. 106: 127 (2010) APNI
Taxonomic status:Accepted
Occurrence status:Present
Establishment means:Naturalised
Vigorous, long-rhizomatous and stoloniferous perennial. Stems decumbent, or occasionally ascending through vegetation, bark etc., to 3 m when supported. Leaf-blades flat or folded, to 25 (but commonly only to c. 5) cm long and 6 mm wide, glabrous or with scattered hairs; sheaths ciliate along margins, sometimes with scattered hairs over surface; ligules 1–2 mm long. Inflorescence remaining wholly or largely enclosed within uppermost leaf-sheath, c. 1–2 cm long, usually comprising only 2–6 spikelets each on a short branch and subtended by an involucre 8–15 mm long (shorter than the spikelets). Spikelets narrow-lanceolate, 10–20 mm long; lower and upper glumes vestigial, represented by membranous scales, occasionally to 3 mm long, but usually much shorter, or sometimes absent; lower floret sterile, its lemma equal to the spikelet, 9–13-nerved, membranous, palea absent; upper floret bisexual, lemma equal to lower lemma, palea subequal to lemma; stamens briefly but prominently exserted at anthesis, the fine filaments 2–4 cm long. Flowers Jan.–Apr.
*Brid, *CVU, *DunT, *EGL, *EGU, *GipP, *Glep, *Gold, *GGr, *HSF, *LoM, *MuF, *NIS, *OtP, *OtR, *Strz, *VRiv, *VVP, *WaP, *WPro, *Wim. Naturalised in all States. Native to Africa. Naturalised through much of Victoria, particularly on sandy soils of the lowlands (e.g. coasts, north-west) and tolerating a degree of salinity. Widely grown as a hardy lawn species in most areas, failing to thrive in very heavy soils, in very dry areas and in cooler montane zones.
Bioregion | Occurrence status | Establishment means | |
---|---|---|---|
Lowan Mallee | present | introduced | |
Wimmera | present | naturalised | |
Glenelg Plain | present | naturalised | |
Bridgewater | present | naturalised | |
Victorian Volcanic Plain | present | naturalised | |
Victorian Riverina | present | naturalised | |
Murray Fans | present | naturalised | |
Gippsland Plain | present | naturalised | |
Otway Plain | present | naturalised | |
Warrnambool Plain | present | naturalised | |
Goldfields | present | naturalised | |
Central Victorian Uplands | present | naturalised | |
Greater Grampians | present | naturalised | |
Dundas Tablelands | present | naturalised | |
Northern Inland Slopes | present | naturalised | |
East Gippsland Lowlands | present | naturalised | |
East Gippsland Uplands | present | naturalised | |
Wilsons Promontory | present | naturalised | |
Highlands-Southern Fall | present | naturalised | |
Otway Ranges | present | naturalised | |
Strzelecki Ranges | present | naturalised |
State |
---|
Western Australia |
Northern Territory |
South Australia |
Queensland |
New South Wales |
Australian Capital Territory |
Victoria |
Tasmania |