VicFlora Flora of Victoria
  1. Plantae
  2. Tracheophyta
  3. Magnoliopsida
  4. Poales
  5. Poaceae

Rostraria

Taxonomic status Accepted
Occurrence status Present
Origin Introduced

Tufted annuals. Leaf-blades flat; ligules membranous. Inflorescence a panicle. Spikelets laterally compressed, with 2–6 bisexual florets which fall separately; glumes 2, keeled, equal or unequal, the lower 1–3-nerved, the upper 3-nerved, shorter than the spikelet, persistent; lemmas 3–5-nerved, bifid, keeled, with a straight to slightly curved awn near the apex; palea shorter than lemma, bifid at apex.

About 18 species, from southern Europe, possibly extending to southern Africa; 2 naturalised in Australia and Victoria.

The distinctions between this and other closely related genera (e.g. Koeleria, Lophochloa, Trisetum) are not universally accepted.

Source:

Walsh, N.G. (1994). Poaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., ‍Flora of Victoria Vol. 2, Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and Monocotyledons‍, pp. 356–627. Inkata Press, Melbourne.

Updated by: Val Stajsic, 20 Dec. 2019
Rostraria (hero image)