Mat Grass - native (Hemarthria uncinata)

Native. Perennial. C4.

Family. Poaceae (Grass family).

Identification:

• the flower cluster appears to be spike-like, with the spikelets recessed into the stalk, similar to rye grasses
• it has two kinds of spikelets, which are paired; one of the pair has two florets, the first of these male and the second fertile; the second kind of spikelet is male
• each spikelet has two glumes; the glumes are sometimes awned, in which case the awn is often hooked.
• the leaves flat or folded.
• the ligules are a fringed membrane and 0.2-0.5mm long.

Mat Grass, as its name suggests, is usually a low growing mat-forming grass.

hemi: half, arthron: a joint, the joints along the stem often appear incomplute. uncinata: hooked, referring to the hooked glumes.

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