Sporobolus virginicus

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Sporobolus virginicus
Starr 010202-0207 Sporobolus virginicus.jpg
Status TNC G5.svg
Secure  (NatureServe) [2]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Chloridoideae
Genus: Sporobolus
Species:
S. virginicus
Binomial name
Sporobolus virginicus
Synonyms [3] [4]
  • Agrostis virginicaLinnaeus
  • Vilfa virginica(L.) P. Beauv.
  • Podosemum virginica(L.) Link
  • Agrostis littoralisLam.
  • Sporobolus virginicusvar.virginicus
  • Sporobolus benthamii var. robustusDomin
  • Sporobolus virginicus var. pallidusBenth.
  • Sporobolus virginicus var. minorF.M. Bailey ex B.K. Simon
  • Vilfa intermediaTrin.

Sporobolus virginicus, known by numerous common names including seashore dropseed, [5] marine couch, sand couch, salt couch grass, saltwater couch, coastal rat-tail grass, and nioaka, is a species of grass with a wide distribution.

Contents

Description

It is a spreading perennial tussock grass from 10 to 50 cm (3.9 to 19.7 in) in height. Its flowers are green or purple. It reproduces asexually by use of both stolons and rhizomes. [6]

Taxonomy

It was originally published by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, under the name Agrostis virginicus. It was transferred into Sporobolus by Karl Sigismund Kunth in 1829. It has a great many synonyms. [3] [4]

Distribution and habitat

It grows in Australia, New Zealand, many Pacific Islands, the Caribbean, Africa, India, China and Indonesia. It is widespread in Australia, [7] occurring in every state, although in New South Wales it is considered naturalised. [8]

References

  1. ↑ Bárrios, S. & Copeland, A. (2021). "Sporobolus virginicus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T177364A192135454. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T177364A192135454.en . Retrieved 2 April 2025.
  2. ↑ NatureServe. "Sporobolus virginicus". NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  3. 1 2 "Sporobolus virginicus (L.) Kunth". Vascular Plants: Australian Plant Name Index. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Sporobolus virginicus (L.) Kunth". Global Biodiversity Information Facility . Retrieved 2 April 2025.
  5. ↑ NRCS. "Sporobolus virginicus". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  6. ↑ "Sporobolus virginicus (L.) Kunth". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  7. ↑ p24 It is the most wildly distributed saltmarsh plant in AustraliaSaintilan, Neil; CSIRO (2009), Australian saltmarsh ecology, CSIRO Publishing, ISBN   978-0-643-09684-4
  8. ↑ S. W. L. Jacobs & K. L. McClay. "New South Wales Flora Online: Sporobolus virginicus". Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney, Australia.
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