Talk:Microlaena stipoides

Should this be considered as a bushfood?

I note that the seed of this grass is suitable for human consumption, and while I haven't found any mention of it as a food consumed by indigenous Australians, should this be considered as bushfood as it's a naturally grown grass in Australia? In addition I note: "...it is being researched as a perennial grain crop. The grains are high in protein and small-scale commercial production for human consumption has commenced."

Tzali (talk) 08:08, 4 November 2022 (UTC)

Is Microlaena stipoides the only species?

Microlaena avenacea (bush rice grass; oat grass; Diplax avenacea Raoul; Microlaena avenacea (Raoul); Ehrharta diplax), Microlaena carsei, or Microlaena avenacea var. carsei and Microlaena polynoda (bamboo grass; Diplax polynoda Hook.f.; Ehrharta multinoda F.Muell.; Microlaena ramosissima Colenso) also seem to be Microlaena species. Johnragla (talk) 14:21, 27 January 2023 (UTC)

Plants of the World Online (PoWO) here accepts three species:

• Microlaena connorii Renvoize
• Microlaena stipoides (Labill.) R.Br.
• Microlaena tasmanica (Hook.f.) Hook.f. ex Benth.

All three should be added to a new genus article. Two of those you list are synonyms:

• Microlaena avenacea (Raoul) Hook.f. = Ehrharta diplax F.Muell.
• Microlaena carsei Cheeseman = Ehrharta diplax var. diplax

PoWO regards Microlaena polynoda (Hook.f.) Hook.f. as an unplaced name. Peter coxhead (talk) 17:03, 28 January 2023 (UTC)

@Johnragla: I've now created a stub at Microlaena and moved this article to the species. Peter coxhead (talk) 17:23, 28 January 2023 (UTC)