AusTraits

Sporobolus virginicus

Explore the data for this taxon in the portal

Family Poaceae

Taxonomy: Sporobolus virginicus (L.) Kunth

Synonyms: 15 (APC 2026-07-30)
  • Agrostis virginica L. (nomenclatural synonym)
  • Podosaemum virginicum Trin. (nomenclatural synonym)
  • Podosemum virginicum (L.) Link (nomenclatural synonym)
  • Sporobolus benthami var. robustus Domin (taxonomic synonym)
  • Sporobolus benthamii F.M.Bailey var. benthamii (taxonomic synonym)
  • Sporobolus benthamii var. robustus Domin (taxonomic synonym)
  • Sporobolus matrella Nees (taxonomic synonym)
  • Sporobolus virginicus (L.) Kunth var. virginicus (nomenclatural synonym)
  • Sporobolus virginicus var. ? pallida Benth. (taxonomic synonym)
  • Sporobolus virginicus var. minor F.M.Bailey (taxonomic synonym)
  • Sporobolus virginicus var. minor F.M.Bailey ex B.K.Simon (taxonomic synonym)
  • Sporobolus virginicus var. pallidus Benth. (taxonomic synonym)
  • Vilfa intermedia Trin. (taxonomic synonym)
  • Vilfa matrella Nees (taxonomic synonym)
  • Vilfa virginica (L.) P.Beauv. (nomenclatural synonym)

Distribution (APC): WA, ChI, AR, NT, SA, Qld, CSI, NSW, LHI, NI, Vic, Tas

Profiles: APC, Flora of Australia, ALA, iNaturalist, NSW Flora, NT eFlora, SA eFlora, Vic Flora, Florabase, ATRP

Traits

Top source datasets: ABRS_2022 (4), ABRS_2023 (13), Cheal_2017 (5), Crowley_2007 (2), Draper_2023 (3), GrassBase_2014 (8), Hughes_1992 (3), Jordan_2001 (7), Kew_2019_1 (4), Kew_2019_3 (3), Kew_2019_6 (2), Metcalfe_2020_2 (18), Mokany_2015 (2), Moore_2019_2 (55), Munroe_2019 (1), NHNSW_2014 (1), NHNSW_2014_2 (2), NHNSW_2022 (11), NHNSW_2023 (17), NTH_2022 (4), NTH_2023 (5), Nano_2011 (2), Osborne_2014 (1), RBGV_2022 (4), RBGV_2023 (7), SAH_2022 (2), SAH_2023 (5), Schmidt_1993 (1), Simpson_2021 (2), Sjostrom_2006 (4), WAH_2022_2 (4), WAH_2023_2 (4), Wenk_2022 (2), Wenk_2023 (1), Wheeler_2002 (10), White_2020 (20), Williams_2011 (11). See below for a full list of sources.
Summary: AusTraits contains 66 traits from 250 records in 37 datasets.

Traits by category (click to expand). For categorical traits, the values are listed. For numerical traits, the mean and range are shown.

fire response
  • resprouting_capacity (categorical): partial_resprouting (15); resprouts (7) [sources: Cheal_2017; Crowley_2007; Moore_2019_2; Nano_2011; White_2020]
flower morphology
  • sex_type (categorical): hermaphrodite (3); monoecious (1) [sources: Jordan_2001; Metcalfe_2020_2; Sjostrom_2006]
fruit morphology
  • fruit_length (numerical): 0.85 mm (0.7-0.9 mm) [sources: ABRS_2023; Metcalfe_2020_2]
  • fruit_width (numerical): 0.5 mm (0.5-0.5 mm) [sources: ABRS_2023]
  • fruit_height (numerical): 0.5 mm (0.5-0.5 mm) [sources: ABRS_2023]
  • fruit_type (categorical): caryopsis (10) [sources: ABRS_2023; Metcalfe_2020_2; NHNSW_2023; NTH_2023; RBGV_2023; SAH_2023; Sjostrom_2006; WAH_2023_2]
  • fruit_fleshiness (categorical): dry (3) [sources: Jordan_2001; Metcalfe_2020_2; Sjostrom_2006]
  • fruit_dehiscence (categorical): dehiscent (1); indehiscent (2) [sources: Metcalfe_2020_2; Sjostrom_2006]
  • fruit_colour (categorical): brown (1) [sources: ABRS_2023]
leaf morphology
  • leaf_area (numerical): 550.62 mm2 (112.5-818.65 mm2) [sources: Metcalfe_2020_2; Mokany_2015; Moore_2019_2]
  • leaf_length (numerical): 66 mm (10-130 mm) [sources: ABRS_2023; GrassBase_2014; NHNSW_2023; NTH_2023; Wheeler_2002]
  • leaf_width (numerical): 2.44 mm (0.5-4 mm) [sources: ABRS_2023; GrassBase_2014; NHNSW_2023; Wheeler_2002]
  • leaf_dry_mass (numerical): 97.67 mg (87-117 mg) [sources: Moore_2019_2]
  • leaf_mass_per_area (numerical): 135.68 g/m2 (117.1-162.07 g/m2) [sources: Moore_2019_2]
  • leaf_dry_matter_content (numerical): 0.3 g/g (0.29-0.31 g/g) [sources: Moore_2019_2]
  • leaf_shape (categorical): linear (2); subulate (1) [sources: ABRS_2023; SAH_2023; Wheeler_2002]
  • leaf_margin (categorical): entire (1) [sources: NHNSW_2014_2]
  • leaf_lobation (categorical): unlobed (1) [sources: Wheeler_2002]
  • leaf_compoundness (categorical): simple (3) [sources: Metcalfe_2020_2; NHNSW_2014_2; Wheeler_2002]
  • leaf_lamina_posture (categorical): convolute (1); flat (2); involute (3) [sources: ABRS_2023; NTH_2023; RBGV_2023; SAH_2023]
  • leaf_phyllotaxis (categorical): alternate (5) [sources: ABRS_2023; NHNSW_2023; RBGV_2023]
  • leaf_arrangement (categorical): distichous (2) [sources: RBGV_2023; SAH_2023]
  • plant_photosynthetic_organ (categorical): leaf (7) [sources: ABRS_2023; NHNSW_2023; NTH_2023; RBGV_2023; SAH_2023]
life history
  • photosynthetic_pathway (categorical): c4 (7) [sources: Kew_2019_3; Metcalfe_2020_2; Moore_2019_2; Munroe_2019; Osborne_2014; White_2020; Williams_2011]
  • plant_growth_form (categorical): graminoid (10); graminoid_not_tussock (1); herb (7); tussock (3) [sources: ABRS_2022; Hughes_1992; Metcalfe_2020_2; NHNSW_2022; NTH_2022; RBGV_2022; SAH_2022; WAH_2022_2; Wenk_2022; Wheeler_2002; White_2020; Williams_2011]
  • life_form (categorical): hemicryptophyte (2) [sources: Metcalfe_2020_2; Williams_2011]
  • life_history (categorical): perennial (13) [sources: ABRS_2022; Cheal_2017; Jordan_2001; Moore_2019_2; NHNSW_2022; NTH_2022; RBGV_2022; Simpson_2021; WAH_2022_2; Wenk_2023; Wheeler_2002]
  • woodiness_detailed (categorical): herbaceous (9) [sources: ABRS_2022; NHNSW_2022; NTH_2022; RBGV_2022; SAH_2022; WAH_2022_2; Wenk_2022]
  • stem_growth_habit (categorical): caespitose (1); creeping (3); decumbent (2); erect (2); rhizomatous (7); stoloniferous (2); tufted (1) [sources: ABRS_2022; Moore_2019_2; NHNSW_2022; NTH_2022; RBGV_2022; WAH_2022_2]
  • nitrogen_fixing (categorical): non_nitrogen_fixer (2) [sources: White_2020; Williams_2011]
  • root_structure (categorical): arbuscular_mycorrhizal (3) [sources: Metcalfe_2020_2; Schmidt_1993; Williams_2011]
  • parasitic (categorical): not_parasitic (1) [sources: White_2020]
  • pollination_syndrome (categorical): abiotic (1); self (1); wind (2) [sources: Draper_2023; Metcalfe_2020_2; White_2020]
  • pollination_system (categorical): abiotic (1) [sources: Williams_2011]
  • dispersal_syndrome (categorical): barochory (3); epizoochory (1) [sources: Draper_2023; Metcalfe_2020_2; White_2020; Williams_2011]
  • dispersers (categorical): birds (1); passive (1) [sources: Draper_2023; White_2020]
  • flowering_time (categorical): yynnnnnnyyyy (1); yyynnnnnyyyy (1); yyyyyyyyyyyy (1) [sources: Hughes_1992; NHNSW_2014; White_2020]
  • seedbank_longevity_class (categorical): persistent (1) [sources: White_2020]
  • vegetative_reproduction_ability (categorical): vegetative (2) [sources: Metcalfe_2020_2; White_2020]
  • clonal_spread_mechanism (categorical): aboveground_clonal (1); belowground_clonal (1); rhizome (1) [sources: Metcalfe_2020_2; Williams_2011]
  • storage_organ (categorical): rhizome (7) [sources: ABRS_2023; NHNSW_2023; NTH_2023; RBGV_2023; WAH_2023_2]
  • bud_bank_location (categorical): bud-bearing_root (2); rhizome (4) [sources: Crowley_2007; Moore_2019_2; Nano_2011; Simpson_2021]
seed morphology
  • seed_dry_mass (numerical): 0.2 mg (0.1-0.23 mg) [sources: Kew_2019_1; Metcalfe_2020_2; Williams_2011]
  • seed_length (numerical): 1.9 mm (0.7-3 mm) [sources: Jordan_2001; GrassBase_2014]
  • seed_width (numerical): 1.5 mm (1.5-1.5 mm) [sources: Jordan_2001]
whole plant morphology
  • plant_height (numerical): 0.42 m (0.1-0.7 m) [sources: GrassBase_2014; Hughes_1992; Mokany_2015; NHNSW_2023; RBGV_2023; WAH_2023_2; Wheeler_2002]
  • plant_physical_defence_structures (categorical): absent (1) [sources: White_2020]

Sources

dataset_idn_traitsn_recordsreference
Moore_2019_21255N. A. Moore, J. S. Camac, and J. W. Morgan. “Effects of drought and fire on resprouting capacity of 52 temperate Australian perennial native grasses”. New Phytologist 221.3 (2018), pp. 1424-1433. doi: 10.1111/nph.15480.
White_20202020M. White, S. Sinclair, and D. Frood. Victorian Vital Attributes Database. database. Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Victoria, 2020.
Metcalfe_2020_21718D. Metcalfe. “Unpublished data: Traits of Poaceae spp, CSIRO”. 2020.
NHNSW_2023717N. H. of New South Wales. The Plant Information Network System of The Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust Version 2.0.. accessed on 6 May, 2022.. 2023. url: https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/.
ABRS_20231213Australian Biological Resources Study. Flora of Australia, Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra.. accessed on 14 September, 2022.. 2023. url: http://www.ausflora.org.au.
NHNSW_2022411N. H. of New South Wales. The Plant Information Network System of The Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust Version 2.0.. accessed on 6 May, 2022.. 2022. url: https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/.
Williams_20111111R. P. Duncan, S. E. Clemants, R. T. Corlett, A. K. Hahs, M. A. McCarthy, M. J. McDonnell, M. W. Schwartz, K. Thompson, P. A. Vesk, and N. S. G. Williams. “Plant traits and extinction in urban areas: a meta-analysis of 11 cities”. Global Ecology and Biogeography 20.4 (2011), pp. 509-519. doi: 10.1111/j.1466-8238.2010.00633.x.
Wheeler_2002810J. R. Wheeler, N. G. Marchant, and M. Lewington. Flora of the south west: Bunbury, Augusta, Denmark. Australian Biological Resources Study ; University of Western Australia Press, 2002. ISBN: 9780642568168.
GrassBase_201448W. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, and K. H. &. H. Williamson. GrassBase - The online world grass flora. 2006. url: http://www.kew.org/data/grasses-db.html.
Jordan_200177G. J. Jordan. “An investigation of long-distance dispersal based on species native to both Tasmania and New Zealand”. Australian Journal of Botany 49.3 (2001), pp. 333-340. doi: 10.1071/bt00024.
RBGV_202377VicFlora. Flora of Victoria, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. accessed on 6 May, 2022.. 2023. url: https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/.
Cheal_201755D. Cheal. Growth stages and tolerable fire intervals for Victoria's native vegetation data sets. Fire and adaptive management, report no. 84. Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment Melbourne, 2010.
NTH_202355D. of Land Resource Management and N. T. of Australia. Northern Territory Flora Online. accessed on 6 May, 2022.. 2022. url: http://eflora.nt.gov.au/.
SAH_202355S. H. of South Australia. eFlora of SA, Electronic Flora of South Australia. accessed on 6 May, 2022.. 2022. url: http://www.flora.sa.gov.au/.
ABRS_202244Australian Biological Resources Study. Flora of Australia, Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra.. accessed on 14 September, 2022.. 2022. url: http://www.ausflora.org.au.
Kew_2019_114Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Seed Information Database (SID) and Seed Bank Database. 2019. url: http://data.kew.org/sid/.
NTH_202244D. of Land Resource Management and N. T. of Australia. Northern Territory Flora Online. accessed on 6 May, 2022.. 2022. url: http://eflora.nt.gov.au/.
RBGV_202244VicFlora. Flora of Victoria, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. accessed on 6 May, 2022.. 2022. url: https://vicflora.rbg.vic.gov.au/.
Sjostrom_200644A. Sjöström and C. L. Gross. “Life-history characters and phylogeny are correlated with extinction risk in the Australian angiosperms”. Journal of Biogeography 33.2 (2006), pp. 271-290. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2699.2005.01393.x.
WAH_2022_244Western Australian Herbarium. Florabase—the Western Australian Flora.. accessed on 14 September, 2022.. 2022. url: https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/.
WAH_2023_234Western Australian Herbarium. Florabase—the Western Australian Flora.. accessed on 14 September, 2022.. 2023. url: https://florabase.dpaw.wa.gov.au/.
Draper_202333J. T. Draper, S. Delean, J. G. Conran, P. Weinstein, and B. S. Simpson. “Life-history characteristics and climate correlates of dioecious plant species in central southern Australia”. Australian Journal of Botany unknown.unknown (2023), p. unknown. doi: 10.1071/BT22110.
Hughes_199233L. Hughes and B. Rice. “Unpublished data: Traits data for 643 species, Macquarie University”. 1992.
Kew_2019_333Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Salt and water tolerance data from the Seed Information Database (SID) and Seed Bank Database. 2019. url: http://data.kew.org/sid/.
Crowley_200722G. Crowley, M. Gardener, and M. Marrinan. Tropical savannas fire response database. 2007. url: [www.landmanager.org.au](www.landmanager.org.au).
Kew_2019_612Royal Botanic Gardens Kew. Germination data from the Seed Information Database (SID) and Seed Bank Database. 2019. url: http://data.kew.org/sid/.
Mokany_201522K. Mokany, J. J. Thomson, A. J. J. Lynch, G. J. Jordan, and S. Ferrier. “Linking changes in community composition and function under climate change”. Ecological Applications 25.8 (2015), pp. 2132-2141. doi: 10.1890/14-2384.1.
NHNSW_2014_222Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. PLantNET: NSW flora online. 2014. url: http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/.
Nano_201122C. E. M. Nano and P. J. Clarke. “How do drought and fire influence the patterns of resprouting in Australian deserts?”. Plant Ecology 212 (2011), pp. 2095-2110. doi: 10.1007/s11258-011-9988-x.
SAH_202222S. H. of South Australia. eFlora of SA, Electronic Flora of South Australia. accessed on 6 May, 2022.. 2022. url: http://www.flora.sa.gov.au/.
Simpson_202122K. J. Simpson, E. C. Jardine, S. Archibald, E. J. Forrestel, C. E. R. Lehmann, G. H. Thomas, and C. P. Osborne. “Resprouting grasses are associated with less frequent fire than seeders”. New Phytologist 230 (2021), pp. 832-844. doi: 10.1111/nph.17069.
Wenk_202222E. Wenk. “Unpublished data: Australian plant growth forms dataset”. 2022.
Munroe_201911S. E. M. Munroe, F. A. McInerney, J. Andrae, N. Welti, G. R. Guerin, E. Leitch, T. Hall, S. Szarvas, R. Atkins, S. Caddy-Retalic, and B. Sparrow. “The Photosynthetic Pathways of Plant Species Surveyed in Australia's National Terrestrial Monitoring Network”. Scientific Data 8 (2021), p. 97. doi: 10.1038/s41597-021-00877-z.
NHNSW_201411Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney. PLantNET. 2014. url: http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/search/simple.htm.
Osborne_201411C. Osborne, A. Salomaa, T. Kluyver, V. Visser, E. Kellogg, O. Morrone, M. Vorontsova, W. Clayton, and D. Simpson. “A global database of C4 photosynthesis in grasses”. New Phytologist 204 (2014), pp. 441-446. doi: 10.1111/nph.12942.
Schmidt_199311S. Schmidt. “Unpublished data: Compilation of mycorrhizal status data, University of Queensland”. 1993.
Wenk_202311E. Wenk. “Unpublished data: Australian plant life history dataset, University of New South Wales, Sydney”. 2023.