Common name: Purple Pigeon Grass
Setaria incrassata (Hochst.) Hack. APNI* Description: Perennials to c. 2 m tall with oblique creeping rhizomes. Nodes usually bearded.
Leaves with ligule with a membranous base c. 1 mm long topped by hairs to 4 mm long, these hairs sometimes spreading onto the basal part of the lamina; blade flat, 3–14 mm wide, 15–60 cm long, margin sometimes with a few scattered glands especially towards the base.
Inflorescence cylindrical, spike-like, occasionally interrupted at base, to 18 cm long and 1.5 cm wide. Spikelets 2.5–3(-3.7) mm long, apiculate. Lower glume 3-nerved, 40–50% spikelet length; upper 80–90% spikelet length. Lower lemma male or sterile, subequal to spikelet; palea subequal to lemma. Fertile lemma with apex exposed and this often darker-coloured, faintly rugulose with some striations usually clearly visible.
Distribution and occurrence: Planted as a pasture grass. Collected as naturalised from pastures in the Inverell district (North Western Slopes); introduced to Queensland. Native of Africa.
NSW subdivisions: *NWS, *NWP
The Queensland material differs significantly from the southern African specimens in having glabrous nodes and a smooth lemma. There appear to be problems with the correct naming of this species.
Text by S.W.L. Jacobs (2005)
Taxon concept: D.J.B. Wheeler, S.W.L. Jacobs & R.D.B. Whalley (2002)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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