Eragrostis atrovirens* (Desf.) Steud. Nom.
Bot., ed. 2: 562 (1840).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Chloridoideae. Cynodonteae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Poa atrovirens
Desf., Fl. Atlant. 1: 73, pl. 14 (1798).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: Desfontaines 160, Algeria: e
Barbaria (FI; IT: BAA-1006, LE, P).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia.
Illustrations:
[2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of Australia 44B: Poaceae 3
(Fig. 70S-T).
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes absent or present. Culms geniculately ascending, 30–130 cm
tall, 1.5–3 mm diam. Leaves basal and cauline. Ligule a fringe of hairs, 0.2 mm
long. Leaf-blades straight, flat or involute or convolute, 15–45 cm long, 2–4
mm wide.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle oblong or ovate, 4–40 cm long,
contracted about primary branches.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets (6–50), comprising 6–50 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at
the apex, linear or lanceolate or oblong, laterally compressed, 3–20 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar. Lower glume ovate, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper glume ovate,
0.8–1.7 mm long, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 1.4–2 mm long, keeled, 3 -nerved. Lemma apex muticous. Anthers 3.
Grain 0.7 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Australasia, Pacific,
North America, and South America.
Australian Distribution:
Queensland.
Queensland: Cook, Moreton.
Notes.
Distinguishing characters include rachilla persistent , stout, with winged
ribbed internodes; florets falling entire upwards; paleas with relatively short
entirely scaberulous keels; caryopsis with free pericarp on moistening, turgid
or almost so.
Introduced;
occurs in Qld. near Bamaga on the tip of Cape York Penin. and also Beerwah N of
Brisbane.; native to Africa and distributed from Spain
through India
to Malesia. Roadside weed and on stream banks; flowers May and Aug.; fruits May
and Aug.
