Aristida_calycina

<i>Aristida calycina</i>

Aristida calycina

Species of grass in the family Poaceae

Aristida calycina, commonly known as dark wiregrass,[1] is a species of grass in the family Poaceae that is native in Australia.

Quick Facts Dark wiregrass, Scientific classification ...
Aristida calycina flat spikelet

Description

The grass-like or herbaceous perennial plant has a compact or loosely tufted habit and typically grows to a height of 0.3 to 2 m (1 ft 0 in to 6 ft 7 in).[1][2] It is strongly branched and has wiry culms. The leaves have smooth or scaberulous sheaths with a ligule that is approximately 0.3 mm (0.012 in) in length. The blade is convolute or conduplicate or sometimes but in some cases is flat with a width of around 1.5 mm (0.059 in). It has lanceolate shaped glumes that are 6 to 20 mm (0.24 to 0.79 in) in length with the upper portion being obtuse and the lower part acute to acuminate. The linear to elliptic lemma is purple or brown in colour with even darker margins and 6 to 9 mm (0.24 to 0.35 in) in length. The divergent flattened awns have a length of up to 30 mm (1.2 in).[2]

Taxonomy

The species was first formally described by the botanist Robert Brown in 1810 as part of the work Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae et insulae Van-Diemen, exhibens characteres plantarum quas annis 1802-1805. Synonyms include Aristida glumaris, Chaetaria calicina and Aristida calycina var. typica.[3]

There are three varieties of this species:

  • Aristida calycina R.Br. var. calycina[4]
  • Aristida calycina var. filifolia B.K.Simon[5]
  • Aristida calycina var. praealta Domin[6]

Distribution

Aristida calycina is found mostly in the eastern states of mainland Australia, Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and parts of the Northern Territory with a scattered distribution that thins toward the west.[3] In New South Wales it is found in all areas apart from the far south west and grows in sandy poor soils.[2]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Aristida calycina". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  2. [2]
    "Aristida calycina R.Br". PlantNet. Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  3. [3]
    "Aristida calycina R.Br". Atlas of Living Australia. Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  4. [4]
    "Aristida calycina". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  5. [5]
    "Aristida calycina var. filifolia B.K.Simon". Atlas of Living Australia. Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  6. [6]
    "Aristida calycina var. praealta Domin". Atlas of Living Australia. Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
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