Common name: Sand Couch, Saltwater Couch, Nioaka
Sporobolus virginicus (L.) Kunth APNI* 
Description: Creeping rhizomatous or stoloniferous perennials to 0.5 m high.
Leaves with ligule a ciliate rim with hairs <0.25 mm long, each end often with rigid hairs to 2 mm long; blade rolled, to 3 mm wide, ribbed, glabrous; sheath glabrous, upper margin sometimes scattered with rigid tubercle-based hairs c. 0.5 mm long.
Inflorescence spicate, 3–13 cm long, 0.5–1 cm wide; rachis flattened or angled, ribbed, glabrous. Spikelets 2–4 mm long, floret 1; pedicels 1–4 mm long, scabrous. Glumes hyaline, smooth, glabrous; lower 2–3 mm long, acute, 1- or 2-nerved; upper 2.5–3.5 mm long, subulate, 1-nerved. Lemma 2.5–3 mm long, acute, smooth, glabrous. Palea subequal to lemma, 2-lobed, 2-nerved, sometimes split between nerves, smooth, glabrous.
Distribution and occurrence:
NSW subdivisions: *NC, *CC, *SC, *LHI
Other Australian states: *Qld *Vic. *N.T. *S.A. *W.A.
Text by S. W. L. Jacobs & K. L. McClay
Taxon concept:
| | Key to the species Sporobolus virginicus | |
| 1 | Leaves >1 mm wide. | var. virginicus |
| 1* | Leaves 1 mm wide or less | var. minor |
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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