Black-heads - native (Enneapogon nigricans)

Native. Perennial or annual. C4.

Family. Poaceae (Grass family).

Uncommon locally. Native grasslands and woodlands to the north.

Other names: Niggerheads.

Identification

• The flower cluster is dense and contracted panicle
• the glumes are about half of the lemma length (body plus awns)
• the lemmas have nine awns
• the spikelets usually usually have a fertile and a sterile floret
• the backs of the lemmas are ribbed, and are hairy on the lower part.
• the leaves are flat or inrolled
• the ligule is a rim of hairs to 0.5mm long.

The nine-awned lemmas are distinctive. The awns are about twice the length of the lemma body. The flower heads are dark coloured, hence the name 'black-heads'. Each spikelet has several florets, only one of which is fertile.

ennea: nine; pogon: a beard (Greek), referring to the 9-awned lemmas; nigricans: black, referring to the dark-coloured flowers.

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