Sporobolus contiguus S. T. Blake. Univ. Queensland Dept. Biol. Pap 1 (18): 6 (1941).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Chloridoideae. Cynodonteae.
Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: HT: S.T. Blake 10577, 28 Feb 1936, Australia: Queensland, Maranoa Dist.: Noondo (BRI; IT: BRI, CANB, L, MEL, US-1819270).
Key references (books and floras): [1981] M.Lazarides in J.Jessop (ed)., Flora of Central Australia (468), [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 (377).
Illustrations: [2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of Australia 44B: Poaceae 3 (Fig. 58A-F), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn (377).
Habit. Perennial. Culms erect or geniculately ascending, 30–70 cm tall, 2–4 -noded. Lateral branches simple or sparsely branched. Leaf-sheaths scaberulous, glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs, 0.7 mm long. Leaf-blades flexuous, filiform, flat or convolute, 3–17 cm long, 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface papillose, glabrous or indumented.
Inflorescence. Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle ovate, 9–22 cm long, contracted about secondary branches.
Spikelets. Spikelets sessile or pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate or oblong, terete, 1.5–2 mm long.
Glumes. Lower glume linear or lanceolate, hyaline, without keels, 0 -nerved. Lower glume surface indumented. Upper glume linear or lanceolate, 1.2–2 mm long, hyaline, without keels, 1 -nerved. Upper glume surface indumented.
Florets. Fertile lemma 1.5–2 mm long, without keel or keeled, 1 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented. Palea 2 -nerved. Palea apex entire. Anthers 3. Grain 0.65–0.9 mm long.
Continental Distribution: Australasia.
Australian Distribution: Queensland, New South Wales, Northern Territory.
Queensland: Darling Downs, Leichhardt, Maranoa, Mitchell, North Kennedy, Port Curtis, South Kennedy, Warrego. New South Wales: North-Western Plains, South-Western Plains, South Far Western Plains. Northern Teritory: Central South.
Notes. Previously these specimens have been identified as S.lenticularis, S. pulchellus, S. australasicus, S. carolii and S. scabridus, from which they all differ by features noted in the key.
Endemic; distributed in a belt from Charters Towers, Qld southwards to Wentworth, NSW. Found growing in a varied range of conditions and soils. Usually associated with Brigalow Acacia harpophylla in the northern part of its range; flowers in response to rain.
