Zoysia macrantha Desv. Opusc. 54
(1831).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily
Chloridoideae. Cynodonteae.
Common name:
Prickly Couch.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Crescit in Nova-Hollandia, iso:NSW.
Key references
(books and floras): [1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus (208 as Zoysia
pungens), [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (506 as Zoysia
pungens), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia,
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia
(407), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New
South Wales (402).
Illustrations:
[1984] N.T.Burbidge. rev. S.W.L.Jacobs, Australian Grasses (275), [2005] K.Mallet (ed.), Flora of Australia
44B: Poaceae 3 (Fig. 55 as subsp. walshii), [2006] J.Jessop,
G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (408, fig. 338 as subsp. walshii),
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales, 4th edn (402).
Derivation:
from the Greek makros (large) and anthos (flower). Spikelets
large.
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present, elongated. Culms decumbent, 5–30 cm tall. Lateral
branches simple or sparsely branched. Leaves cauline. Ligule a fringed membrane
or a fringe of hairs, a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades flat or involute or
convolute, 1–16 cm long, 0.5–4 mm wide.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence solid, a raceme. Racemes 1, 2–5 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate or elliptic or oblong or
ovate, laterally compressed, 2–5 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
firmer than fertile lemma, shiny. Upper glume lanceolate or oblong or ovate,
2–5 mm long, coriaceous, without keels, 1 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 3.5 mm long, without keel, 1 -nerved. Lemma apex mucronate. Palea
0 -nerved. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales,
Victoria, Tasmania.
Queensland:
Moreton, Port Curtis, Wide
Bay. New
South Wales: North Coast, Central
Coast, South Coast.
Victoria: East
Gippsland, Gippsland Plain, Otway Plain, Wannon, Wimmera. Tasmania: King
Island, Furneaux Group, North East, East Coast.
Notes.
Endemic
Infra-specific taxa: subsp. macrantha, subsp. walshii.
Spikelets 3.5–5 mm
long; mature leaves more than 2 mm wide Z. macrantha subsp. macrantha
Spikelets 2.3–3.5 mm
long; mature leaves c. 1 mm wide Z. macrantha subsp. walshii
