Sporobolus australasicus
Domin
Australian Dropseed, Fairy grass
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(c) Kym Nicolson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Kym Nicolson
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(c) Karl Tattersall, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
iNaturalist· cc-by-sa
(c) Karl Tattersall, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
Description
A small grass which grows over one or two years. It grows 10-40 cm high. It forms dense tufts at the base. The leaves are broad. There are short bristles along the edge. They are heart shaped at the base. The flowering stalk has a loose panicle. It is a pyramid shape. The grains are round. They are 1 mm across.
Edible Uses
The seeds are collected, cooked, and eaten as a cereal grain.
Traditional Uses
The seeds are collected then cooked and eaten.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
Distribution
A tropical plant. It grows on a range of soils. It grows in tropical and subtropical places.
Where It Grows
Australia*,
Notes
There are about 160 Sporobolus species. They are mainly in the tropics and subtropics.
References (6)
- Lazarides, M. & Hince, B., 1993, Handbook of Economic Plants of Australia, CSIRO. p 227
- Paczkowska, G. & Chapman, A.R., 2000, The Western Australian Flora. A Descriptive Catalogue. Western Australian Herbarium. p 117
- Petheram, R.J. and Kok, B., 2003, Plants of the Kimberley Region of Western Australia. UWA Press p 221
- Repert. Spec. Nov. Regni Veg. 9:553. 1911
- Wheeler, J.R.(ed.), 1992, Flora of the Kimberley Region. CALM, Western Australian Herbarium, p 1223
Show all 6 references Hide references
- Wightman, Glenn et al. 1994, Gurindji Ethnobotany: Aboriginal Plant Use from Daguragu Northern Australia. Northern Territory Botanical Bulletin No 18. Parks and Wildlife Commission of the Northern Territory. p 49.
