Scientific name: Axonopus fissifolius

Synonyms: Axonopus affinis A. Chase; Axonopus compressus act. non (Swartz) Beauv., Paspalum compressum auct. non (Swartz) Raspoil

Common name:Narrow-leaved carpet grass

Family: Poaceae

Origin:

Native of tropical America.

Habit:

Perennial creeping grass forming dense mats with erect or inclined inflorescences on stalks up to 60 cm high (although usually much shorter).

Habitat:

Weed of fine-leafed lawns and better quality pastures. It can be useful as a pasture or lawn grass on poorer soils where more desirable species will not thrive.

General description:

Stems and leaves

Stems grow horizontally, rooting a the nodes (stoloniferous), sending up tufted shoots. The stem nodes are hairless. Leaf sheaths are flattened and also hairless. The leaf blades are linear to broadly linear (5-20 x 0.2-0.8 cm in size), with blunt tips, and with a few hairs or hairless.

Flowers and fruit

Inflorescences usually have 2-3 (rarely up to 5) racemes 2-10 cm long at the top of an erect or inclined stalk up to 60 cm tall. These racemes are digitately or almost digitately (sub-digitately) arranged. The seeds have bracts (ie. lemma and palea) enclosing them.

Distinguishing characteristics:

This species has hairless nodes, unlike those of Axonopus compressus (broad-leaved carpet grass), which have a tuft of hairs. As the common names suggest, the leaves of Axonopus fissifolius are also usually narrower than those of Axonopus compressus.

Noxious status:

Not noxious.

Sources:

Auld, B.A. and Medd, R.W. (1996). Weeds: An Illustrated Botanical Guide to Weeds of Australia. Inkata Press, Sydney.

Kleinschmidt, H.E., Holland, A. and Simpson, P. (1996). Suburban Weeds. 3rd Edition. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.

Stanley, T.E. and Ross, E.M. (1983-1989). Flora of South-eastern Queensland. Volume 3. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.