Cynodon incompletus*

Cynodon incompletus* Nees. Linnaea
7: 301 (1832).

Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Chloridoideae. Cynodonteae.

Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information
: IT: Drége s.n., South
Africa: Cape: Gaaup, in
district Beaufort (K).

Key references
(books and floras):
[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
(192).

Illustrations:
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales
, 4th edn (192).

Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes absent or present. Stolons present. Culms erect or
geniculately ascending, 5–40 cm tall, 1 mm diam. Ligule an eciliate membrane,
0.4–1 mm long, truncate. Leaf-blades 2–6 cm long, 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade
surface glabrous or indumented.

Inflorescence.
Inflorescence digitate, with spicate branches.

Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, ovate, laterally compressed, 2.1–3 mm
long.

Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate or elliptic or
oblong or ovate, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume
lanceolate, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved.

Florets.
Fertile lemma 2.1–3 mm long, keeled, winged on keel, 3 -nerved. Palea 2
-nerved. Anthers 3.

Continental
Distribution
: Africa, Australasia, and South America.

Australian
Distribution
: Queensland, New South Wales.

Queensland:
Burnett, Darling Downs, Leichhardt. New
South Wales
: North Coast, Central Coast, Northern Tablelands, North-Western
Slopes, Central-Western Slopes, South-Western Slopes, North-Western Plains,
South-Western Plains.

Notes.
Reported to be a good, quick-growing feed relished by cattle, and also has been
used for controlling erosion.

 Cynodon incompletus differs from C.
dactylon
by its larger membranous ligule, shorter glumes relative to the
floret, and the rachilla not being prolonged beyond the floret. Also the lemma
is firmer in texture, with longer hairs and narrow wings on the keel.
Generally, plants can be distinguished by their glaucous foliage and stouter,
pallid or greenish (not purplish) spikes. Natural hybrids of C. incompletus
and C. hirsutus are known from their native South Africa, and the 2 species
cross readily with each other and with C. dactylon var. dactylon
under experimental conditions.

Introduced;
Eastern N.S.W. N from Sydney, and SE Qld; endemic to southern Africa;
introduced elsewhere. Persistent in pastures and heavy traffic areas around
buildings; seems to prefer basaltic or alluvial soils; also known from less
disturbed areas, in Myall-Brigalow country and on poorer soils.

AVH 2011

 

Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith