| Microlaena stipoides | |
|---|---|
| Microlaena stipoides | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Monocots |
| (unranked): | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Genus: | Microlaena |
| Species: | M. stipoides |
| Binomial name | |
| Microlaena stipoides |
|
Microlaena stipoides or Ehrharta stipoides, is a species of grass that occurs naturally in all states of Australia as well as in New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and the Philippines.[1][2] It has also been introduced into Hawaii and Reunion Island and has been reported as invasive in both.[2][3] Common names used include weeping grass, weeping rice grass and weeping meadow grass.[4]
P. Martin, writing in 2004, commented:[5] “Although the generic name Microlaena is strongly defended by Australasian agrostologists (e.g. Wheeler et al. 2002) many European authors treat it as a section of the genus Ehrharta, so that information on the species in question will be found in these sources under the name Ehrharta stipoides Labill. (e.g. Clayton and Renvoize 1986).” He chooses to refer to the species as Microlaena stipoides throughout the rest of his paper. The Australian Plant Census lists both names as synonymous,[6] but a search for the common name, “weeping grass” in the Australian Botanic Garden’s database yields the name “Microlaena stipoides”.[7] This name will be used for the rest of the article. Not all species are affected by this ambiguity. The non-indigenous species Ehrharta erecta, for example, remains in the genus Ehrharta in the literature of Oceania and the western Pacific.[7]
Microlaena stipoides grows to a height of approximately 0.7 metres and produces delicate drooping stalks carrying the spikelets which contain seeds.[1] The naked caryopses (grains) are similar in shape to rice grains but smaller, approximately 5 mm long, with a mass that varies widely, ranging from 1 mg to 7 mg.[3][4][8] Microlaena stipoides prefers acidic soils and is drought- and frost-tolerant.[9] In Australia it is found in areas of medium to high rainfall (above 600 mm per annum) and the leaves normally remain green all year.[10]
Microlaena stipoides produces nutritious pasture for grazing livestock with productivity of approximately 2-7 tonnes per hectare and digestibility of approximately 60-70%.[8][9][11] Its drought-tolerant qualities have led to an increasing interest in its use for turf to replace exotic species and research is being conducted into its potential for development as perennial grain crop.[4][5][12][13] The grains are high in protein and small-scale commercial production for human consumption has commenced.[10]