Mat Grass
Hemarthria uncinata
Vigarous rhizomatous mat-forming grass. Erect stems with narrow flower spikes. Reddish leaves to 20 cm long, folded along the midrib.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Flora Type | Grasses |
| Former Scientific Name | Hemarthria uncinata var. uncinata |
| Biology | Perennial. Winter-wet to seasonally waterlogged heavy soils. Easily overlooked among other grasses, but sometimes dominant on damp soils. |
| Native Status | Native |
| Flowering Time | Dec-Feb |
| Taxonomy | |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants) |
| Class | Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants) |
| Order | Poales |
| Family | Poaceae |
| Genus | Hibbertia |
| Species | hirsuta |
Can be used as a native lawn species. After George Hibbert (1757-1837), a London merchant and patron of botany.
| Interesting Facts | |
|---|---|
| Similar Species | Easily confused with the introduced Mat Grass Hainardia and Parapholis grasses whose flowerheads form two distinct rows like caterpillars on each side of the stem. Two varieties known. |
| Native Status | Native |