Common name
Forest Hedgehog Grass
Hedgehog Grass
Rough-bearded Grass

Derivation
Echinopogon P.Beauv., Ess. Agrostogr. 42, 148, 161, t. 9, fig 5 (1812); from the Greek echinos (hedgehog) and pogon (beard), referring to the inflorescence.

ovatus- from the Latin ovum (egg) and -ata (possessing). Inflorescences, spikelets, or leaf-blades ovate in outline.

Published in
Ess. Agrostogr. 42, 148, 161 (1812).

Common synonyms
Echinopogon ovatus (G.Forst.) P.Beauv. var pubuglumis C.E.Hubb.

Habit
Perennial, culms solitary or tufted (loosely). Rhizomes elongated. Culms geniculately ascending, 10–50(–120) cm tall, 3–7-noded. Mid-culm internodes retrorsely scabrous. Lateral branches simple. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths smooth or retrorsely scabrous, glabrous on surface or pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 2 mm long, truncate. Leaf-blades spreading or recurved, linear or lanceolate, 1.5–16 cm long, 2–8.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth or scaberulous, glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

Inflorescence
Inflorescence solid, a panicle. Peduncle straight, retrorsely scabrous above. Panicle capitate, oblong or ovate, 0.5–5 cm long, 1–2.5 cm wide.

Spikelets
Spikelets spreading, solitary. Pedicels oblong. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret, with a barren rhachilla extension, oblong or obovate, laterally compressed, (3–)3.6–5.1 mm long, breaking up at maturity. Spikelets disarticulating below each fertile floret.

Glumes
Glumes persistent, similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate or elliptic, 2.5–5 mm long, equalling upper glume, membranous, 1-keeled, 1-nerved, midnerve scabrous. Lower glume lateral nerves absent. Lower glume margins eciliate or ciliolate. Lower glume apex obtuse or acute. Upper glume lanceolate or elliptic or ovate, 3–5 mm long, 100% of length of adjacent fertile lemma, membranous, 1-keeled, 1–3-nerved, midnerve scabrous, midnerve ciliolate. Upper glume lateral nerves absent. Upper glume margins eciliate or ciliolate. Upper glume apex obtuse or acute.

Florets
Fertile lemma lanceolate or oblong or ovate, 3.4–5 mm long, cartilaginous, 5–7-nerved. Lemma surface scaberulous, rough above. Lemma apex entire or dentate, 2-fid, emarginate or acute, 1-awned. Median (principal) awn apical or subapical, 3–15 mm long overall. Lateral lemma awns absent. Palea ovate, 100% of length of lemma, 2-nerved. Palea keels ciliolate, adorned above. Palea apex acute. Anthers 3, 1–1.5 mm long. Ovary pubescent on apex. Grain with adherent pericarp, oblong or ovoid, 2–2.5 mm long, hairy at apex. Hilum linear.

Continental Distribution:
Tropical Asia, Australasia.

Australian Distribution:
Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania.

Western Australia: Drummond, Menzies, Warren, Roe. South Australia: Flinders Ranges, Northern Lofty, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South-eastern. Queensland: Cook, North Kennedy, South Kennedy, Port Curtis, Leichhardt, Burnett, Wide Bay, Darling Downs, Moreton, Maranoa. New South Wales: North Coast, Central Coast, South Coast, Northern Tablelands, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, Central-Western Slopes, South-Western Slopes, South-Western Plains. Victoria: Wannon, Grampians, Midlands, Otway Plain, Otway Range, Eastern Highlands, Gippsland Plains, Gippsland Highlands, Wilsons Promontory, Snowfields, East Gippsland. Tasmania: Furneaux Group, North West, North East, Central Highlands, Midlands, Ben Lomond, East Coast, South West, Mt Field.

Classification. (GPWG 2001):
Pooideae: Aveneae

Notes
Native. All States and Territories except the N.T., also in Lord Howe Is., New Guinea and New Zealand. Widespread in wet sclerophyll woodland and by creeks. Flowers Aug.–Jan. Fruits Jan.–May.
Young plants cause 'staggers' in stock.

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