Polypogon viridis* Gouan. Hortus
Monsp. 546 (1762).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae.
Tribe Poeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Agrostis
viridis Gouan, Hortus Monsp. 546 (1762)
Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: T: Anon., France (P).
Recent synonyms: Agrostis semiverticillata, Polypogon viridis,
Polypogon semiverticillatus.
Key references
(books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (as Agrostis semiverticillata), [2002] D.Sharp &
B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia, [2006] J.Jessop,
G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (249), [2008]
S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales
(111 as Agrostis), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia,
Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (165 as Agrostis).
Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (249, fig. 192), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs,
R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn
(111 as Agrostis).
Habit.
Perennial. Stolons absent or present. Culms geniculately ascending or
decumbent, (15–)30–100 cm tall. Lateral branches simple. Ligule an eciliate
membrane, 2–4 mm long, lacerate. Leaf-blades 2–18 cm long, 2–7(–10) mm wide.
Leaf-blade surface scaberulous or scabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle oblong or ovate, 2–8(–11) cm long,
0.5–4 cm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, elliptic, laterally compressed,
1.3–1.7(–3) mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic or oblong, membranous,
keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Lower glume apex muticous. Upper glume elliptic or
oblong, 1.4–2 mm long, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1(–3) -nerved. Upper glume
surface scabrous. Upper glume apex entire, muticous.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 1–1.5 mm long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Lemma apex erose or
dentate, muticous. Palea 2 -nerved. Lodicules present. Anthers 3. Grain 1 mm
long.
Continental
Distribution: Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia,
Pacific, North America, and South America.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales,
Victoria, Tasmania.
Western
Australia: Warren, Avon. South Australia:
Flinders Ranges, Eyre Peninsula, Northern
Lofty, Southern Lofty, South-eastern. New South Wales:
Central Coast, Southern Tablelands,
South-Western Slopes, South Far Western Plains. Victoria:
East Gippsland, Gippsland Plain, Otway
Range, Volcanic Plain,
Wimmera. Tasmania: North West.
Notes. Often placed in Agrostis,
but lacks the persistent pedicels and glumes, the unequal lemma and palea, the
longer anthers and mode of spikelet disarticulation characteristic of this
genus.
Introduced. Native of the Mediterranean, now widely established elsewhere. Weed of
damp or wet sites, usually in or near water. Flowers Sept.-Mar.
