Eragrostis spartinoides
Steud. Syn. Pl. Glum. 1:
265 (1854).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Chloridoideae. Cynodonteae.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: T: H. Cuming 668, Philippines:
Luzon: Laguna (L).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales (256).
Illustrations:
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales, 4th edn (256).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect, 70–85 cm tall. Ligule a fringe of hairs, 0.2–0.3 mm
long. Leaf-blades straight, filiform or linear, flat or involute, 1–3 mm wide.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle linear or lanceolate, 5–64 cm long,
contracted about primary branches.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets many flowered, with at least 2 fertile
florets (8–56), comprising 8–57 fertile floret(s), with diminished florets at
the apex, linear, laterally compressed, 5–28 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar. Lower glume ovate, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved. Upper
glume ovate, 1.3–2.8 mm long, membranous, keeled, 1-keeled, 1 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 1.5–2.3 mm long, keeled, 3 -nerved. Anthers 2–3.
Continental
Distribution: Tropical Asia, Australasia,
and Pacific.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland,
New South Wales.
Western Australia: Gardner,
Fitzgerald, Dampier. Northern
Territory: Darwin & Gulf. Queensland:
Burke, Burnett, Cook, Darling Downs, Leichhardt, Maranoa, Mitchell, Moreton,
North Kennedy, Port Curtis, South Kennedy, Warrego, Wide Bay.
New South Wales: North Coast,
Central Tablelands.
Notes.
Distinguishing characters include open panicle with distant branches; usually
linear and many-flowered spikelets; rachilla disarticulating after lemmas;
cartilaginous glumes and lemmas; laterally compressed caryopsis longer than
wide.
Native;
occurs on the Mitchell Plateau in N W.A., then in N.T. from Darwin S to
Katherine and the McArthur R. area, also from the tip of Cape York Penin. in
Qld S to Grafton in N N.S.W, and near Lithgow further S.; also occurs in Burma, SE Asia, New
Caledonia, Easter Island. In a
range of sandy and clayey, often shallow soils derived from granite, sandstone,
laterite, basalt and quartzite; also in a range of habitats (rocky or stony
hillslopes and ridges; near seasonal streams, lakes, lagoons, springs; coastal
sandy ground; disturbed roadsides, fallow land and railway enclosures).;
flowers all year round.; fruits all year round.
