Cynodon hirsutus* Stent. Bothalia
11: 227, 286 (1927).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Chloridoideae. Cynodonteae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Transvaal, Burtt-Davyseveral
syntypes cited.
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia.
Habit. Rhizomes absent. Stolons present. Culms erect or geniculately
ascending or decumbent, 8–17 cm tall. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 0.7–1.3 mm long.
Leaf-blades 2–8 cm long, 1–4 mm wide.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence digitate, with spicate branches.
Spikelets.
Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), 1.8–2.5 mm long.
Glumes. Lower
glume ovate. Upper glume ovate, 1–3 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 1.8–2.5 mm long, keeled, winged on keel.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: New South Wales.
New
South Wales: North Coast, South
Coast.
Notes.
Close to C. incompletus but distinguished by the longer glumes of C.
hirsutus (half to 3/4 spikelet length, compared to half or less in C.
incompletus), the occurrence of 3-nerved upper glumes in C. hirsutus,
and the presence of a wing on the lemma keel only in the upper half, compared
with a full-length wing in C. incompletus. 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;
isolated occurrence in sub-alpine areas of northern and southern N.S.W.;
Africa, Pacific and North America, endemic to southern Africa.
