Common name: Nine-awn Grass
Enneapogon nigricans (R.Br.) P.Beauv. APNI* Synonyms: Enneapogon pallidus (R.Br.) P.Beauv. APNI*
Description: Tufted perennial to 0.5 m high; culms few-noded, simple or sparsely branched, pubescent, not disarticulating.
Leaves with blade flat or tightly involute, 1–4 mm wide, densely pubescent with simple and glandular hairs.
Panicle spicate, 1–9 cm long, usually 1–1.5 cm wide (including awns), green when flowering, turning black; axillary inflorescences absent. Spikelets 3–5-flowered, 1 fertile. Glumes 3–8 mm long, 4–9-nerved, unequal, obtuse or acute to acuminate, entire, muticous. Body of basal lemma 1.8–3.4 mm long, nerves variable, ribbed upwards and flattened or obscure below; awns 3–7.8 mm long, plumose in the lower 75%. Palea membranous, slightly longer than lemma.
Flowering: Flowers in response to rain.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in a wide range of communities, often on red and red-brown earths; widespread, especially inland.
NSW subdivisions: NC, SC, NT, CT, ST, NWS, CWS, SWS, NWP, SWP, NFWP, SFWP
Other Australian states: Qld Vic. S.A.
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.
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