Common name: Spikegrass
Elytrophorus spicatus (Willd.) A.Camus APNI* 
Description: Tufted annual or short-lived perennial to 0.8 m high; culms bristly-hairy.
Leaves with sheath loose; ligule a membranous rim; blade rolled in the bud, lax, to 5 mm wide.
Spike consisting of globose interrupted clusters of spikelets over half the length of the plant, to 26 cm long, 5–9 mm wide. Spikelets 4 mm long, florets bisexual, the uppermost sterile and reduced to a lemma. Glumes subequal, c. 2–3 mm long, shortly awned, margins translucent and sparingly ciliate, awn and keel rough. Lemmas longer than the glumes, tapering to a straight or slightly curved scabrid awn. Paleas shorter than the lemmas, broad, membranous, apex 2-fid, wings broad, obtuse.
Flowering: in response to rain or flooding.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in or near water or in gilgais.
NSW subdivisions: NWP, NFWP
Other Australian states: Qld Vic. W.A. S.A. N.T.
Text by S. W. L. Jacobs & K. L. McClay
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.
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