Enneapogon nigricans | |
---|---|
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Monocots |
(unranked): | Commelinids |
Order: | Poales |
Family: | Poaceae |
Subfamily: | Chloridoideae |
Genus: | Enneapogon |
Species: | E. nigricans |
Binomial name | |
Enneapogon nigricans (R.Br.) P.Beauv. |
|
Synonyms | |
Enneapogon nigricans, known by the common names blackheads,bottle washers, pappus grass,purpletop grass, and niggerheads, is a perennial Australian grass.
Distinctive lance-shaped seedheads appear in late spring and summer. They form at the top of wiry stalks over 30 cm long. They start as an olive green colour, but dry to a light brown. The seed itself is much like a parasol in appearance, and is around 5mm across. Germination is slow and unreliable and requires warm temperatures.
Leaves are smooth and of a bright, light green. Plants like sunny positions and generally grow in sunny, open mallee forests. Plants form tall dense tussocks to a maximum of only 20 cm across. They die down in late summer, before reshooting when the rains return.