Common Australian Garden Weeds

Eragrostis cilianensis

Scientific name: Eragrostis cilianensis (All.) Vign.-Lut. ex Janchen


Inflorescence of stinkgrass showing the obvious open panicle of this species.


Close-up of the inflorescence of stinkgrass with several greyish green spikelets, each with many florets.


Photo of the inflorescence of stinkgrass during anthesis.

Synonyms: Poa cilianensis All., Eragrostis major L. Host, E. megastachya (Koel.) Link

Common name:Stinkgrass

Family: Poaceae

Origin:

Native of Africa and possibly the Mediterranean.

Habit:

Perennial tufted grass with erect or ascending culms which tend to sprawl, leaves are glandular with an unpleasant odour when fresh. Inflorescences are panicles reaching 50 cm.

Habitat:

Common weed of tended areas growing on a range of different soils, often infests fallow wheat fields.

General description:

Stems and leaves

The midribs of the leaf sheaths often have hairs with a swelling at the base as well as wart-like glands. Leaf blades are mostly hairless, linear, gradually narrowing to the tip, up to 25 x 0.9 cm. Margins of leaves have wart-like glands.

Flowers and fruit

The inflorescences are branching and compact, 4-30 cm long. There are usually glands on the branchlets and pedicels carrying the spikelets. Spikelets are flattened, ovate to oblong, 0.3-3 x 0.2-0.4 cm with 5-60 florets. The spikelets are yellowish or greyish green and often glandular. Seeds are minute, rust coloured, with a glossy pitted surface.

Distinguishing characteristics:

A perennial tufted grass with tubercular hairs, warty glands, unpleasant odour in fresh plants.

Noxious status:

Not noxious.

Sources:

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.

Friend, E. (1983). Queensland Weed Seeds. Department of Primary Industries, Brisbane.