Astrebla

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Mitchell grass
Astrebla pectinata.jpg
Astrebla pectinata
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Chloridoideae
Tribe: Cynodonteae
Subtribe: Eleusininae
Genus: Astrebla
F.Muell. [1]
Type species
Astrebla pectinata

Astrebla is a small genus of xerophytic (adapted to survive in an environment with little liquid water) grasses found only in Australia. [2] They are the dominant grass across much of the continent. [3] They are commonly known as Mitchell grass after Scottish explorer Thomas Mitchell (1792-1855), who first collected a specimen near Bourke in New South Wales.

Mitchell grasses grow on clay soils, mainly between an upper limit of 600 millimetres or 24 inches and a lower limit of 200 millimetres or 8 inches average annual rainfall, and at even lower rainfall in depressions where the water concentrates following rains, for example in Sturt's Stony Desert. Mitchell grasses are deep-rooted and become dormant during drought, allowing them to survive extended periods without rainfall. [4] [5]

They are commonly found clumped together and reaching one metre high, providing habitat for organisms such as mammals. [6]

Species [7] [8]
Scientific nameCommon nameCharacteristics
Astrebla elymoides hoop Mitchell grassthe second most common species
Astrebla lappacea curly Mitchell grassthe most common species
Astrebla pectinata barley Mitchell grassthe most drought-tolerant species
Astrebla squarrosa bull Mitchell grassthe most flood-tolerant species

See also

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References

  1. Mueller, Ferdinand Jacob Heinrich von 1878. Flora australiensis:a description of the plants of the Australian territory /by George Bentham, assisted by Ferdinand Mueller. 7: 602-603 in English
  2. Watson, L. and M. J. Dallwitz. (2008). "Astrebla". The Grass Genera of the World. Archived from the original on 2009-04-17. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
  3. Atlas of Living Australia, Astrebla F.Muell. ex Benth., Mitchell Grass
  4. FutureBeef Program for Northern Australia
  5. "Tropical Forages". Archived from the original on 2007-03-10. Retrieved 2006-08-15.
  6. Andrew, David (2015). "Appendix D [glassary]". Complete Guide to Finding the Mammals of Australia. Clayton South, Victoria: CSIRO Publishing. p. 399. ISBN   9780643098145.
  7. Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  8. The Plant List search for Astrebla