Common name: Forest Hedgehog Grass
Echinopogon ovatus (G.Forst.) P.Beauv. APNI* 
Description: Perennial to 1.2 m high, arising from a slender, often elongated rhizome.
Leaves with sheath retrorsely scabrid to smooth, glabrous to pilose below; ligule truncate or laciniate, 1–2.5 mm long; blade 2–8 mm wide, shortly acute, scabrid or smooth.
Panicle rigidly erect, ovate or oblong, dense or quite dense, 8–50 mm long, 8–25 mm wide (including awns). Spikelets linear-oblong becoming ovate, at length horizontally spreading, 3–5 mm long. Glumes acute or obtuse, keel scabrid or rigidly ciliolate. Lemma equal to glumes or a little longer, linear-lanceolate in outline, apex minutely bilobed or entire; awn 3–16 mm long, scabrid. Palea shorter than lemma, keel ciliolate towards apex.
Flowering: spring.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in wet sclerophyll woodland and by creeks; widespread.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NT, CT, ST, NWS, CWS, SWS, SWP, LHI
Other Australian states: Qld Vic. Tas. W.A. S.A.
This species in its younger stages is dangerous to stock, causing 'staggers' if eaten.
Text by S. W. L. Jacobs & S. M. Hastings
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
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.
|
