Sporobolus laxus B.K.Simon. Austrobaileya 1: 459 (1982).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Chloridoideae. Cynodonteae.
Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: Australia: Queensland: near Eagle Heights, 9 Mar 1976, Simon, Sharpe & Standley 2927 (HT: BRI-228827; IT: CANB, K).
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 (378).
Illustrations: [2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of Australia 44B: Poaceae 3 (Fig. 52A-F), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn (378).
Habit. Perennial. Culms erect, 60–150 cm tall, 2–3 -noded. Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Lateral branches simple. Leaf-sheaths hairy. Ligule a fringed membrane or a fringe of hairs, 0.1 mm long. Leaf-blades linear, flat or conduplicate or involute, 1–50 cm long, 0.8–3 mm wide.
Inflorescence. Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle elliptic, 15–45 cm long, 4–6 cm wide, with spikelets clustered towards branch tips.
Spikelets. Spikelets sessile or pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate, terete, 1.2–1.6 mm long.
Glumes. Lower glume lanceolate or elliptic or ovate, hyaline, without keels, 0 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate or ovate, 0.5–1 mm long, hyaline, without keels, 0 -nerved.
Florets. Fertile lemma 2 mm long, without keel, 1 -nerved. Palea 2 -nerved. Palea apex entire. Anthers 3. Grain 1 mm long.
Continental Distribution: Australasia.
Australian Distribution: Queensland, New South Wales.
Queensland: Burnett, Cook, Leichhardt, Moreton, Port Curtis, Wide Bay, North Kennedy. New South Wales: North Coast, Central Coast.
Notes. A native grass formerly placed with the Asian S. diandrus but differing from that species by the base of the panicle branches being naked for a greater distance.
Endemic; from Cairns, Qld to central coastal N.S.W. Roadsides, native grassland and woodland. It can also show weed potential; flowers all year.
