Sporobolus africanus

Common name: 

Rat-tail Grass

Family: 

Poaceae

Distribution (from Flora of Victoria):

Wannon, Riverina, Midlands, Victorian Volcanic Plain, Otway Plain, Otway Range, Eastern Highlands, Gippsland Plain, East Gippsland (DEGJKLNPRSTUWXZ) naturalised in all States except NT

Map - Australia's Virtual Herbarium

Distribution and ecological preference at Wilsons Promontory (if known):

Near-coastal areas, along roadsides1

Flower description:

Flowers without petals and surrounded by a scale/bract1

Habit:

Tufted perennial grass with culms to 70 cm high1

Distinguishing characteristics (within family/genus):

The inflorescence is narrow, the upper glume is half as long as the spikelet and the spikelets are to 2 mm long1

Images:
Image of Sporobolus africanus
Links to more images:

Atlas of Living Australia

Links to description of this species:

PlantNet

Conservation status:

Introduced

References:

1 Walsh, N. G. and Entwisle, T. J. “Flora of Victoria”, volumes 2 (1994), 3 (1996) and 4 (1999). Inkata Press, Port Melbourne, Victoria