- Sporobolus
Key to the species of Sporobolus
1Inflorescence of 1 to several spikes; rigid, strongly rhizomatous, usually semi-aquatic grasses of tidal mud-flats2 1Inflorescence a raceme or panicle (sometimes very contracted and appearing spike-like but spikelets at least shortly pedicellate); tufted or rhizomatous, terrestrial grasses3 2Spikelets (15–)16.5–25 mm long; anthers 7–13 mm long, usually fully exserted at maturity and distinctly dehiscing; pollen fertile; ligules 1–3 mm long; upper glumes 3–6-veined, 13–22 mm long; seeds produced; leaf blades often forming an angle of >45 degrees to culmSporobolus anglicus 2Spikelets 14–17.5 mm long; anthers 5–7(–8.5) mm long, not or incompletely exserted at maturity, indehiscent; pollen sterile; ligules 1–1.5 mm long; upper glumes 3-veined; seeds not produced; leaf blades generally forming an angle <45 degrees to culmSporobolus ×townsendii 3Inflorescence narrow, with lowest branches solitary or paired4 4Upper glume more or less equal to spikelet5 4Upper glume usually about half (but up to two-thirds) as long as spikelet6 5Tufted or stoloniferous grass of north and north-west; leaves not distichous, sheath shorter than internodes; spikelets membranous, dullSporobolus mitchellii 5Rhizomatous grass of near-coastal (and occasionally inland) saline environments; leaves distichous, sheath mostly longer than internodes; spikelets firm, shiningSporobolus virginicus 6Inflorescence interrupted throughout, the spikelet-bearing branches mostly 1–3 cm long, the rachis clearly visible between the branches; spikelets mostly c. 1.5 mm longSporobolus creber 6Inflorescence continuous throughout (except sometimes at very base), the spikelet-bearing branches mostly less than 1 cm long and completely obscuring the rachis; spikelets c. 2 mm long7 7Spikelets 2–2.5 mm long; lowest branches of inflorescence appressed to main axis; widespread weed of southern VictoriaSporobolus africanus 7Spikelets 1.6–2 mm long; lowest branches of inflorescence sometimes spreading slightly from main axis; dubiously recorded from Horsham onlySporobolus fertilis From: Walsh, N.G. (1994). Poaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J. (eds), Flora of Victoria. Vol. 2. Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and Monocotyledons. Inkata Press, Melbourne.