Lemon-scented grass occurs throughout Fowlers Gap Station, growing in small alluvial drainage depressions and alongside the larger drainage channels. It has a strong lemon scent when the leaves are crushed, which can be refreshing during a long day's field work. Try adding it as a tangy swizzler to your next post-lunch field cocktail - I know I do!

Lemon-scented grass is an erect, densely-tufted, tussocky, aromatic perennial grass.

Bark: stems are unbranched, hairless, smooth, shiny with 2-3 nodes.
Leaves: 22-45 cm long, bluish-green when young, gradually becoming reddish with age, tapering to a point.
Flowers: heads are sparse to dense, 8-35 cm long and 2-3 cm wide, occasionaly hairy with erect or spreading spikes 12-25 mm long occurring in pairs at the end of short branches. Spikelets have 2 florets with the upper floret having an awn that has a bent and twisted column, 12-18 mm long.
Fruit: seeds.
Source: Frank Kutsche and Brendan Lay (2003). Field guide to the plants of outback South Australia. Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation, South Australia, ISBN 0 7590 1052 8.
Phillip Moore (2005). A guide to plants of inland Australia. Reed New Holland, ISBN 1 876334 86 X.
Photos: Ian Roach

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