Eleusine tristachya

Hastings. Feb 2004.<br>Photographer: Colin C. Ogle, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.

Leaf base, sheath, ligule (few long hairs); in new-laid lawn, Queens Park, Whanganui.<br>Photographer: Colin C. Ogle, Date taken: 09/02/2017, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.

Leaf base, sheath, ligule; in new-laid lawn, Queens Park, Whanganui.<br>Photographer: Colin C. Ogle, Date taken: 09/02/2017, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>.

Inflorescence of 3 spikes, each with 2 rows of spikelets; new-laid lawn, QueensPark Whanganui.<br>Photographer: Colin C. Ogle, Date taken: 09/02/2017, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>

Arrived as top-soil contaminant in new-laid lawn, Queens Park, Whanganui.<br>Photographer: Colin C. Ogle, Date taken: 11/02/2017, Licence: <a target='_blank' href='https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0'>CC BY-NC</a>. <a class='member-message' href='/nzpcn/why-join-nzpcn/' target='_blank'>Members can view a larger version of this image.</a>

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Common name

Three-spiked goose-grass

Family

Poaceae

Authority

Eleusine tristachya (Lam.) Lam.

Flora category

Vascular – Exotic

Structural class

Grasses

Conservation status

Not applicable

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.

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

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