Running mountain grass
Oplismenus compositus, Fam. Poaceae
Perennial grass 15-150cm long.
| Weed Category: | |
| Weed: | No |
| Form or habit: | Grass or grass-like plant |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Leaf: | Lanceolate, ovate, 2-16 x 0.8-3.5 cm. Leaf blades venated and have obscure cross veins with an apex which is acuminate or slightly acute. |
| Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Flower colour: |
Purple |
| Flower description: | Inflorescence composed of racemes, 2.5-11cm long, borne on a side of the central axis. The central inflorescence axis is 5-25 cm long with angular rhachis and is either glabrous or pilose on the bottom. The glume is shorter than a spikelet and thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume is ovate with an awn, purple and 3-10mm in length. The upper glume is also ovate, but unlike the lower, is herbaceous with glabrous surface which can be pubescent as well. It is also obtuse and is 0-4mm in length. Florets are 2-2.5mm in length and are pubescent, emarginate, and mucronate. Both florets and glumes are one-keeled, but the veins are different, five glumes and seven to eleven florets. |
| Fruit conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Fruit colour: |
Brown |
| Fruit: | |
| Fruit description: | Brown spikelets come in two rows which are fertile, pedicelled, and sessile. The pedicels are oblong. The spikelets also have one basal sterile floret and one fertile floret while its rhachilla is not extended. They are 2.5-4 mm in length and are lanceolate. Linear fruit is 0.5mm in length. |
| Habitat: | Open forest, woodland. |
| Distribution | Queensland, New South Wales, Northern Territory, New Guinea, Malesia, Asia, Africa, America, Pacific Islands. |
| Food source for: | |
| Toxicity: | No toxicity known |
| Origin: | Australia, New Guinea, Malesia, Asia, Africa, America, Pacific Islands. |
| Notes: | |
| Information sources: | Atlas of Living Australia (2022) Oplismenus compositus (L.) P.Beauv., Royal Botanic Gardens Kew (2022) Oplismenus compositus (L.) P.Beauv.. Plants of the World Online. |
