Species
Eleusine tristachya
Common Name(s)
three-spiked goose-grass
Authority
Eleusine tristachya (Lam.) Lam.
Family
Poaceae
Brief Description
Tufted perennial grass to 20 cm tall; leaves folded with blunt boat-shaped tips. Inflorescence of 2-4 spikes, each with 2 rows of spikelets on one side.
Flora Category
Vascular - Exotic
Structural Class
Grasses
Distribution
Few records in NZ. Flora NZ Vol. 5: 524 gives Gisborne, Hastings, Whanganui + one early record from Wellington.
Habitat
Waste areas - dry sand, gravel; lawns.
Similar Taxa
Crowsfoot grass (E. indica) is and annual and is usually larger with inflorescences of (1)-2-8-(10) spikes
Flowering
Jan-Feb
Flower Colours
Cream
Fruiting
March-April
Propagation Technique
seed
Year Naturalised
1896
Origin
South America
Reason for Introduction
Perhaps a grass seed contaminant
This page last updated on 10 Feb 2017