Common name: Coolah Grass
Panicum coloratum L. APNI* 
Description: Tufted perennial to 1.6 m high with extravaginal innovations.
Leaves with sheath glabrous or ± hirsute; ligule membranous below, ciliate above, c. 2 mm long; blade 6–15 mm wide, glabrous or hairy.
Panicle to 30 cm long, open or contracted, pedicels 1–3 mm long. Spikelets 2–3.5 mm long, acute or shortly acuminate, glabrous. Lower glume 20–35% the length of the spikelet, acute, 1–5-nerved; upper the shape and size of the spikelet, 7–9-nerved. Lower lemma male, similar to the upper glume; palea almost as long as the lemma. Upper lemma 1.75–2.25 mm long, oblong, subacute, smooth and shining.
Flowering: summer.
Distribution and occurrence: Cultivated as a pasture species but naturalized and persistent in many areas. Native of Afr.
NSW subdivisions: *CC, *ST, *NWS, *CWS, *SWS, *NWP, *SWP
Other Australian states: *Qld *Vic.
Text by S. W. L. Jacobs & C. A. Wall
Taxon concept:
| | Key to the varieties | |
| 1 | Plants green or glaucous, often hairy; cataphylls usually glabrous | var. coloratum |
| Plants glaucous, robust, usually glabrous; cataphylls usually hairy. | var. makarikariense |
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.
|
