Eleusine tristachya
Common names
three-spiked goose-grass
Biostatus
Exotic
Category
Vascular
Structural class
Grasses
Simplified 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.
Flower colours
Cream
Similar taxa
Crowsfoot grass (E. indica) is an annual and is usually larger with inflorescences of (1–)2–8(–10) spikes
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.
Conservation status
Not applicable
Detailed taxonomy
Family
Poaceae
Ecology
Flowering
January–February
Fruiting
March–April
Year naturalised
1896
Origin
South America
Reason for introduction
Perhaps a grass seed contaminant
Propagation technique
seed