Citation: Jacq.f., Eclog. Gram. far. 1:3 (1813).

Synonymy: Poa elongata Willd., Enum. Hort. Berol. 108 (1809); P. diandra R. Br., Prod. Fl. Nov. Holl. 180 (1810); E. diandra (R. Br.) Steudel, Synops. Pl. glumac. 1:279 (1854).

Common name: Clustered lovegrass, close-headed lovegrass.

Description:
Perennial 30-64 (rarely 21-90) cm high, often leafy and compact near the base; culms simple or branched, 2-4-noded; leaves mostly glabrous; blades 10-21 cm x 2-4 mm, involute-convolute or flat, hairy near the ligule, scaberulous on the upper surface and margins.

Panicle 3-34 x 0.5-4 cm, contracted and usually spike-like, interrupted at least in the lower part and more or less cylindrical upwards; primary branches up to 6 cm long, much divided and spikelet-bearing throughout; axillary spikelets sometimes present; spikelets 3-12 x 1.5-2.5 mm, loosely 6-27-flowered, ovate to oblong, often glaucous or pruinose; rhachilla jointed, fragile, internodes 0.3-0.4 mm long; glumes cartilaginous to hardened, linear to lanceolate, acuminate, smooth, with a prominent scabrous keel, 1-2 mm long; lemmas cartilaginous to hardened, ovate or elliptic, shortly acuminate to subacute, often mucronulate from a ribbed scaberulous keel, usually granular-papillose, strongly curved on the back; paleas membranous to cartilaginous, oblanceolatespathulate to oblong-elliptic, acute or obtuse, granular; keels scabrous with unequal hairs; anthers 2.

Grain slightly compressed laterally, ovoid-ellipsoid.

Published illustration: Lazafides (1970) The grasses of Central Australia, pl. 37b; Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, p. 100.

Distribution:  S.Aust.: LE, GT, FR, NL, MU, SL, SE.   All mainland States. Conservation status: native Flowering time: Dec. — March.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Author: Not yet available