Derivation
Oplismenus P.Beauv., Fl. Oware 2: 14 (1810); from the Greek hoplismenos (armed), alluding to the awns.

aemulus- Latin for more or less equalling. Subtending glumes more or less equal.

Published in
Syst. Veg. 2: 487 (1817).

Common synonyms
Oplismenus aemulus (R.Br.) Roem. & Schult. var. lasiorhachis Domin
Oplismenus hirtellus auct. non (L.) P.Beauv.

Habit
Perennial. Culms prostrate, 300 cm tall, rooting from lower nodes. Ligule a fringed membrane. Leaf-blades ovate, 1–10 cm long, 4–18 mm wide.

Inflorescence
Inflorescence compound, a panicle of racemes. Racemes 3–9, unilateral, 2.5–3.5 cm long. Central inflorescence axis 3–15 cm long. Rhachis angular, pilose on surface. Spikelet packing lax, regular, 2-rowed.

Spikelets
Spikelets in pairs, subequal or the lower smaller. Pedicels oblong. Fertile spikelets 2-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret, without rhachilla extension, lanceolate, laterally compressed, 3.5–4 mm long, falling entire.

Glumes
Glumes similar or dissimilar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate, equalling upper glume, 50–70% of length of spikelet, herbaceous, 5-nerved. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex acute, awned. Lower glume awn 3–14 mm long, viscid. Upper glume ovate, herbaceous, 7-nerved. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex obtuse, awned. Upper glume awn 0.1–1 mm long.

Florets
Basal sterile floret 1, with palea. Lemma of lower sterile floret ovate, 100% of length of spikelet, membranous, without keels, 7-nerved, pubescent. Fertile lemma oblong, dorsally compressed, 2–3 mm long, coriaceous, glossy, 7-nerved. Lemma margins involute. Lemma apex acute. Palea involute, coriaceous, without keels.

Continental Distribution:
Australasia.

Australian Distribution:
Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria.

Queensland: Cook, Burke, North Kennedy, South Kennedy, Port Curtis, Leichhardt, Burnett, Wide Bay, Darling Downs, Moreton, Maranoa. New South Wales: North Coast, Central Coast, South Coast, Central Tablelands, North-Western Slopes, North-Western Plains, South-Western Plains. Victoria: East Gippsland.

Classification. (GPWG 2001):
Panicoideae: Paniceae

Notes:
Native.