Cynosurus cristatus* Linn. Sp.
Pl. 72 (1753).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae.
Tribe Poeae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: LT: Anon., (LINN-91.1). LT designated by
Cope in Jarvis et al., Regnum Veg. 127: 41 (1993). ST: van Royen s.n.,
(L (2 sheets)).
Key references
(books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (44), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South
Australia (118), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales (193), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia,
Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (344).
Illustrations:
[1984] N.T.Burbidge. rev. S.W.L.Jacobs, Australian Grasses (99), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst,
F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (119, Fig. 77), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs,
R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn
(193).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect or geniculately ascending, 5–133 cm tall, 1–3 -noded.
Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 0.5–1.5 mm long,
truncate. Leaf-blades aciculate, 2–36.5 cm long, 1–4.3 mm wide. Leaf-blade
surface glabrous or indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a panicle. Panicle linear, 1–14 cm long, 0.4–1 cm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets sessile or pedicelled, 1 in the cluster. Companion spikelets sessile,
1 in the cluster. Companion spikelets developed, containing empty lemmas, 3.4–6
mm long. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile florets
(2–5), comprising 2–5 fertile floret(s), with a barren rachilla extension,
elliptic or oblong or cuneate, laterally compressed, 3–6 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar. Lower glume lanceolate or ovate, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1(–2)
-nerved. Upper glume lanceolate or ovate, 3–5.1 mm long, membranous, keeled,
1-keeled, 2 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 3–4.5 mm long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Lemma apex awned, 1
-awned. Median (principal) awn 0.5–1 mm long overall. Anthers 3. Grain 2 mm
long.
Continental
Distribution: Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, Australasia, North America,
South America, and Antarctica.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales,
Victoria, Tasmania.
Western Australia: Eyre. South Australia:
Southern Lofty, South-eastern. New South Wales:
Central Coast,
South Coast, Northern Tablelands, Central
Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, South-Western Slopes. Victoria: East
Gippsland, Eastern Highlands, Gippsland Plain, Murray Mallee, Otway Plain,
Otway Range, Snowfields, Wannon. Tasmania: Furneaux Group, North West,
West Coast, Central Highlands, Midlands, East Coast, South West, Mt Field, Mt
Wellington.
Notes.
Often included as a component of lawns.
Introduced.
Tas., N.S.W., A.C.T., Vic., W.A. and S.A. Native to the Mediterranean,
widely naturalized in cooler temperate regions. Weed of roadsides, waste areas,
grasslands, occasionally in pastures. Flowers Oct.-Feb. Fruits Jan.-?.
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