Panicum repens* L. Sp. Pl. 2:
87 (1762).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Panicoideae. Paniceae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Spain:, Alstroemer s.n. (LT: LINN-80.74).
Key references
(books and floras): [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (484),
[2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia, [2008]
S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales
(318).
Illustrations:
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales, 4th edn (318).
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present, elongated. Stolons absent or present. Culms erect
or geniculately ascending or decumbent, 30–100 cm tall, 7–15 -noded. Mid-culm
internodes glabrous. Lateral branches sparsely branched. Leaf-sheath auricles
absent. Ligule a fringed membrane, a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades erect,
linear, flat or convolute, 5–25 cm long, 2–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface
scabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle oblong, 5–25 cm long, with spikelets
clustered towards branch tips.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, the lower floret barren
(rarely male), the upper fertile, comprising 1 basal sterile florets,
comprising 1 fertile floret(s), without rachilla extension, elliptic or ovate,
dorsally compressed, 2.2–3 mm long. Rhachilla internodes brief up to lowest
fertile floret.
Glumes. Glumes
dissimilar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblate or obovate, hyaline,
without keels, 0(–3) -nerved. Upper glume elliptic or ovate, 2.2–3 mm long,
membranous, without keels, 7–9 -nerved. Florets. Basal sterile florets
1, male, with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret 100 % of length of spikelet,
membranous, 7–9 -nerved, mucronate.
Fertile lemma 1.9–2.5
mm long, without keel. Lemma apex mucronate.
Continental
Distribution: Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia,
Pacific, North America, and South America.
Australian
Distribution: Queensland, New South Wales, Cocos Keeling Is, Ashmore Reef,
Coral Sea Is.
Queensland:
Burnett, Moreton. New South Wales: North Coast, Central Coast,
Central-Western Slopes, North-Western Plains.
Notes.
Diagnostic features include the pronounced scaly rhizomes, spikelet length and
pronounced lower palea.
Introduced. Occurs on
sandy coastal areas in the Mediterranean region and the tropics and subtropics.
In tropical heaths, tropical and subtropical rain forests, tropical and
subtropical wet sclerophyll forests, dry sclerophyll forests, and tropical and
subtropical sub-humid woodlands. It is widely introduced and its place of
origin is uncertain. Flowers Oct.-Dec.
