Sporobolus virginicus
Species of plant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
| Sporobolus virginicus | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| 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] | |
| |
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]
At least in Australia, the species can grade between narrow and broad leaf forms.[7]
Distribution and habitat
It grows in Australia, New Zealand, many Pacific Islands, the Caribbean, Africa, India, China and Indonesia. It is widespread in Australia,[8] occurring in every state.[7]
