Sporobolus elongatus R. Br. Prodr. 170 (1810).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Chloridoideae. Cynodonteae.
Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: LT: Brown 6207, 8 Jan 1803, Australia: New South Wales: Port Jackson (BM (photo, BRI); ILT: K, US (fragm.)). LT designated by Baaijens & Veldkamp, Blumea 35: 451 (1991).
Key references (books and floras): [1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus (170), [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (622 as Sporobolus indicus p.p.), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (399), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales (378).
Illustrations: [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (399, fig. 332), [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, 50–100 cm tall, 3–4 -noded. Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Lateral branches simple. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringed membrane or a fringe of hairs, 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades linear, flat or conduplicate or convolute, 4–50 cm long, 1–3 mm wide.
Inflorescence. Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle linear, 10–30 cm long, contracted about primary branches.
Spikelets. Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate, terete, 1.5–2.3 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate or oblong, hyaline, without keels, 0–1 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate or oblong, 0.7–1.4 mm long, hyaline, without keels, 0 -nerved.
Florets. Fertile lemma 1.3–2.2 mm long, without keel, 1–3 -nerved. Palea 2 -nerved. Palea apex entire. Anthers 2. Grain 0.5–1 mm long.
Continental Distribution: Tropical Asia, Australasia, and Pacific.
Australian Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales.
Western Australia: Drummond, Menzies. South Australia: Lake Eyre. Queensland: Burnett, Darling Downs, Leichhardt, Moreton, North Kennedy, Port Curtis, South Kennedy, Wide Bay, Cook. New South Wales: North Coast, Central Coast, South Coast, Northern Tablelands, Central Tablelands, North-Western Slopes, Central-Western Slopes, North-Western Plains.
Notes. Differs from S. creber by inflorescence branches being longer than adjacent internodes.
Endemic; found mainly along or near eastern coast and a few other scattered localities; New Guinea and the Pacific region. A fairly widespread native taxon in woodland and native grassland. It can also become weedy; flowers all year.
