Sporobolus virginicus, known by numerous common names including seashore dropseed, marine couch, sand couch, salt couch grass, saltwater couch, coastal rat-tail grass, and nioaka, is a species of grass with a wide distribution.
Description It is a spreading perennial tussock grass from in height. Its flowers are green or purple. It reproduces asexually by use of both stolons and rhizomes.
Taxonomy It was originally published by Carl Linnaeus in 1753, under the name Agrostis virginicus. It was transferred into Sporobolus by Karl Sigismund Kunth in 1829. It has a great many synonyms.
At least in Australia, the species can grade between narrow and broad leaf forms.
Distribution and habitat It grows in Australia, New Zealand, many Pacific Islands, the Caribbean, Africa, India, China and Indonesia. It is widespread in Australia,p24 It is the most wildly distributed saltmarsh plant in Australia occurring in every state.
References
External links
Online Field guide to Common Saltmarsh Plants of Queensland