*Chloris gayana

Family Poaceae

Rhodes Grass

Erect perennial grass to 1 m high, with digitate inflorescence, usually stoloniferous, occasionally tufted. Longevity indefinite.

Flowers: Summer, wind pollinated.

Fruit: Dry, one-seeded indehiscent. February - June.

Seed: Dispersed locally.

Gallery images: seed, seedling, rootstock, resprout

Ecology

• Native of Africa.
• Weed of disturbed sites and roadsides. Introduced as soil stabiliser and pasture grass.
• Common and persistent weed in grasslands at the Australian Botanic Garden.
• Not noted as invading woodland at the Australian Botanic Garden.
• Resprouts after fire.
• C4 warm season metabolism.

Asterisk * indicates exotic species naturalised at the Australian Botanic Garden.