Sporobolus mitchellii (Trin.) C.E.Hubb. Bull. Misc. Inf. 26 (1941).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Chloridoideae. Cynodonteae.
Basionym and/or Replacement Name: Vilfa mitchellii Trin., Mem. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint-Petersbourg, Ser. 6, Sci. Math., Seconde Pt. Sci. Nat. 6,4(1–2): 53 (1840).
Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: HT: Mitchell s.n., Australia: interior of New Holland (LE-TRIN-1719.01 (photo, BRI, L)).
Recent synonyms: S. benthamii.
Key references (books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (162), [1981] M.Lazarides in J.Jessop (ed)., Flora of Central Australia (468), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (390), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales (379).
Illustrations: [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (161, Pl.48 as S benthamii), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (400, Fig. 333), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn (378).
Habit. Perennial. Rhizomes present, elongated. Stolons present. Culms erect or geniculately ascending or decumbent, 22–70 cm tall, wiry, 4–10 -noded. Lateral branches simple or branched. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs, 0.4–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform, flat, 1–6(–12) cm long, 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous.
Inflorescence. Inflorescence solid, a panicle. Panicle linear, 6–15 cm long, 0.4–0.7 cm wide, evenly furnished.
Spikelets. Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate, terete, 1.75–2(–2.5) mm long.
Glumes. Lower glume linear or lanceolate or ovate, membranous, without keels, 1 -nerved. Upper glume linear or ovate, 1.25–1.5 mm long, membranous, without keels, 1 -nerved.
Florets. Fertile lemma 1.5–2 mm long, without keel, 1–3 -nerved. Palea 2 -nerved. Palea apex entire. Anthers 3. Grain 0.8–1 mm long.
Continental Distribution: Australasia.
Australian Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria.
Western Australia: Hall. Fortescue, Ashburton, Carnarvon. Irwin, Avon. Northern Territory: Darwin & Gulf, Victoria River, Barkly Tableland, Central Australia North. South Australia: North-western, Lake Eyre, Gairdner-Torrens Basin, Murray, Southern Lofty, South-eastern. Queensland: Burke, Darling Downs, Gregory North, Leichhardt, Maranoa, Mitchell, Port Curtis, Warrego, South Kennedy, Gregory South. New South Wales: North Coast, Central Coast, South Coast, Central-Western Slopes, North-Western Plains, South-Western Plains, North Far Western Plains, South Far Western Plains. Victoria: Midlands, Murray Mallee, Riverina, Wannon, Wimmera.
Notes. Similar to S. virginicus but with smaller spikelets and stoloniferous.
Endemic; widespread in arid regions. In clayey soils of flood plains, muddy flats, waterlogged areas or depressions subject to submersion in rainy season; flowers all year,in response to rain.
