Rats-tail Grass - introduced (*Sporobolis africanus)

Native to Africa. Perennial. C4.

Family. Poaceae (Grass family).

Other names: *Sporobolis indicus.

Identification:

• the flower cluster is very narrow and slender
• the glumes are thin-textured
• the 1st glume is much shorter than the spikelets, the second glume is about two thirds of the spikelet
• the spikelets are single and unawned
• the leaves are rolled
• the ligule is very small, almost absent.

Recognise by the narrow cylindrical flower cluster, the absence of bristles, the absence of awns, and the single-flowered spikelets.

It is uncommon.

Sporos: seed; bolus: throw, the grass readily sheds its seed africanus: from Africa.

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