Adamson's Blown-grass

Status:

Indigenous to western Victoria. Listed as endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (external link) and as threatened under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (external link).

Plant Description:

Tufted annual to perennial grass to 60 cm tall with inrolled leaves to 2 mm wide and to 30 cm long; ligule membranous, obtuse and 3-7 mm long.

Inflorescence a green, broad, open and erect panicle to 25 cm long with slender branches and often remaining enclosed by the upper leaf sheath until late maturity. Panicles detach from the plant when mature and are blown away by the wind.

Spikelets small (2.5-3.0 mm long) on individual fine stalks; each spikelet with a single smooth, hairless floret (except for hairs around its base) with a very fine, straight to slightly curved short (1.5-3 mm) awn or bristle attached towards the upper region and only just visible beyond the tip of the spikelet.

Habitat:

Confined to saline swamps and depressions but widespread across the Victorian Volcanic Plain.

Comments:

Similar appearance to Common Blown-grass.