Oplismenus compositus (L.) P.Beauv.

Taxonomy: Plantae > Tracheophyta > Liliopsida > Poales > Poaceae > Oplismenus > O. compositus

Description: Annuals. Culms 25-80 cm long, trailing, creeping and rooting at the lower nodes; nodes softly hairy. Leaves 1.5-7 x 0.8 - 2 cm, elliptic-lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, base oblique, margins wavy, apex acuminate, hispid; sheaths to 6 cm long; ligule a row of hairs. Inflorescence 8-20 cm long, lax; racemes 4-8, each 1.5 - 11 cm long; rachis triquetrous, pilose. Spikelets paired, 3-4 mm long, elliptic, distant, subsessile. Lower glume 2-3 x 1 mm , lanceolate, awned; awn 4-6 mm long. Upper glume 2-3 x 1 mm, ovate-elliptic, aristate. Lower floret barren. Upper floret bisexual. First lemma 3-4 x 1-2 mm, ovate. Palea 1-2 mm long, lanceolate. Second lemma 2-3 x 1 mm, elliptic, subcoriaceous. Palea 2-3 x 1 mm, elliptic, subcoriaceous, 2-keeled. Stamens 3; anthers c. 1 mm long, purple. Stigma c 1 mm long, reddish. Grains c. 1mm long, ellipsoid.

Flowering and fruiting: Throughout the year

Uses: Variegated forms have been cultivated as house plants in Europe. Locally occurring species in Australia have been used for re-vegetation and reclamation in shady or wet areas, though some can be invasive. Some have been promoted as local native plants for wildlife gardens, and as lawn grass. They are edible to livestock.

Cultivation: Wild , Cultivated

References

http://www.plantsoftheworldonline.org

https://indiabiodiversity.org