Chrysopogon aciculatus* (Retz.) Trin. Fl. Ind. Occ. 1: 203 (1797).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Panicoideae. Andropogoneae.
Basionym and/or Replacement Name: Andropogon aciculatus Retz., Observationes Botanicae 5: 22 (1789).
Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: LT: Koenig s.n. in herb. Retzius, India (LD). LT designated by Veldkamp, Austrobaileya 5(3): 509 (1999). OM: Habitat in Indiae Orientalis sterilibus et ruderatis.
Key references (books and floras): [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (538), [1969] E.E.Henty, Manual Grasses New Guinea (51), [1980] M.Lazarides, Tropical Grasses S.E.Asia (27), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia.
Habit. Perennial. Rhizomes present. Stolons present. Culms erect or geniculately ascending, 20–60 cm tall. Lateral branches simple or branched. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 1–15 cm long, 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.
Inflorescence. Inflorescence compound, a panicle of rames. Panicle ovate, 4–10 cm long. Rhachis obsolete.
Spikelets. Spikelets sessile, 1 in the cluster. Companion spikelets pedicelled, 2 in the cluster. Companion spikelets developed, male, 4–6 mm long. Companion spikelet glumes muticous. 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, linear or elliptic, laterally compressed, 6–10 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes dissimilar, firmer than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong, cartilaginous, without keels, 2–3 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, keeled, 1-keeled, 1–3 -nerved. Upper glume apex muticous or mucronate. Florets. Basal sterile florets 1, barren, without significant palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret hyaline, 2 -nerved.
Fertile lemma 2.5–3 mm long, without keel. Lemma apex entire, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn apical, 3.5–7 mm long overall. Palea present or absent. Grain 2–2.5 mm long.
Continental Distribution: Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia, Pacific, and South America.
Australian Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland, Christmas Is, Cocos Keeling Is, Ashmore Reef, Coral Sea Is.
Northern Territory: Darwin & Gulf. Queensland: Cook, Moreton, North Kennedy, South Kennedy.
Notes. Occurs mainly in NE Qld often as a weed. A few other records in N.T. and SE Qld. Extends through Malesia to Taiwan and India. Flowers Jan.--Nov.
