Dactyloctenium radulans aka Button Grass

Dactyloctenium radulans is a small grass from Australia. It is an annual: it lives its whole life within one year. People call it button grass or buttongrass. It belongs to Poaceae, the grass family. It once had the scientific name Eleusine radulans. Records place it across much of mainland Australia. Its range takes in New South Wales and Queensland. It also grows in South Australia and Western Australia. Records list it in the Northern Territory as well. In Victoria, they place it in the northwest. The RHS lists it as non-native to Britain and Ireland.

Plants For A Future gives a height of about 0.7 feet [0.2 metres]. The source records give no width or spread. They give no details of its leaves or stems. Its flowers have both male and female organs. This does not tell us how its pollen moves. The records do not say which months it flowers. They mention seeds but do not say how they look.

Kew places this grass in deserts or dry shrubland. Plants For A Future also records it near the coast. These records show where it grows, not tested garden care. Plants For A Future lists sun or light shade for growth. It says the plant prefers moist soil. This stated need differs from its dry native sites. The source lists sand, loam, and clay as suitable soils. It also lists mildly acid, neutral, and mildly alkaline soils. The evidence gives no frost limits or hardiness zones.

Plants For A Future lists garden beds as a place to grow it. It says to grow new plants from seed. It gives no sowing dates or more steps for growing. The evidence lists no set role for garden display. It does not say how fast this grass grows. Nor does it say how much care it needs. Its stated small height gives the main guide to garden size. No spread figure helps show how far apart to plant it.

The seeds have a recorded food use, raw or cooked. Plants For A Future gives this use a low edible rating. It reports no known uses as medicine or for other needs. The same source lists no known hazards. This does not prove it is safe for people or pets. The records give no facts on pests or diseases. Plants For A Future does not flag this grass as weedy.