Austroderia richardii

Last updated

Austroderia richardii
Milford Sound Mitre Peak Cabbage tree Toetoe.JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Austroderia
Species:
A. richardii
Binomial name
Austroderia richardii
(Endl.) N.P.Barker et H.P.Linder

Austroderia richardii, syn. Cortaderia richardii, is a species of flowering plant in the family Poaceae. It is an evergreen perennial grass. The genus Austroderia is often confused with "pampas grass", which usually refers to Cortaderia selloana . "Early pampas-grass" is a more specific name. [1] The name "tussock grass" may also be found. The Maori name is "toetoe". [2] It is one of five species commonly called toetoe in the genus Austroderia that are endemic to New Zealand. It occurs in the South Island and possibly also in the North Island. [3] It is also an introduced species in Tasmania, Australia. [4]

Contents

Description

A. richardii are large sized grasses that can grow to around 1.5 to 3 m tall. Its leaves are sharp-edged from 1 m long and around 2 to 5 cm wide. Because of its fine, sharp teeth along the edges of the leaves, it is often referred to as "cutty grass". Its leaves are coarse, green, flat and narrow with upright flowering culms 2.5 m tall (Kimberley, 2011). Culms are the hollow stem of the flowering grass plant. These high culms are the main identifying feature of the A. richardii as they have great arching, dense, silvery plumes at the top of the culms which makes them very elegant and stand out from other Austroderia (Kimberley, 2011). The flower head is usually one-sided and drooping. The flower head has many fine hanging branches which contain numerous small clusters of flowers encased in soft, hairy scales. The plumes appear to be a creamy buff to yellowish colour and grow to around 30–60 cm in length and have a loose/open appearance. [5] This is what gives the A. richardii its distinctive thick, soft, plume-like look from its flowering heads. The leaves of the plant have multiple prominent veins running down either side of the middle of the leaf. [2] This makes them a lot tougher and stronger compared to the introduced pampas grass which looks very similar but this is one way of identifying the difference.

A. richardii usually flower around spring and early summer (September to November) though they always retain their plumes. It implements a stage of fruiting around the October and March months. All Austroderia species in New Zealand, including introduced ones, have been proven to be gynodioecious. Being gynodioecious means they are involved in a dimorphic breeding system in which male-sterile individuals coexist with hermaphroditic individuals in populations. Hermaphrodites may be self-compatible also (Connor H. E, 1973). Hermaphrodite Austroderia can be characterized by their large pollen-filled anthers and small gynoecia (the female part of the flower). While female plants have flat, white or transparent, sterile anthers with larger gynoecia (Connor H. E, 1973). Both of these types of sex form seeds. Their seeds are wind dispersed.

Distribution and habitat

A.richardii is endemic to New Zealand but is an introduced species in Tasmania, Australia (Sharp, 2002). In New Zealand, it is confined to only the South Island but could possibly grow in the North Island, East of Cape Palliser (Edgar, 2000).

A.richardii is a very hardy and tolerant grass species that is able to adapt to a wide variety of habitats including, streamside, wetlands, scrubland and coastal sand dunes. It is most suited to moist or dry soils as well as sand so is able to grow effectively in the habitats mentioned. It can tolerate very poor soils such as sand on coastal dunes and is able to thrive in frost-prone regions. It is well suited to a coastal environment as it can withstand poor soil environments that the dunes appear to have as well as the coastal wind and precipitation effects that occur in coastal regions, for example on the west coast of the South Island or east coast. [5] [6]

A. richardii is suited to many different types of environmental conditions but prefers areas around water (Kimberley, 2011). This shows that the plant prefers to have a lot of moisture uptake. Although it is best suited to moist soil it can tolerate soils which are poor in nutrients such as those soils with the main component being sand, clay or pumice. These soils will lack nutrients due to having too little or too much moisture in them. [6]

Ecology

A. richardii is predominately predated on by herbivores, which includes a wide range of New Zealand endemic bird species and exotic bird species. They mainly feed on the seed from the plumes that flower in spring to summer. [6] It is not poisonous but it can be assumed that most herbivores would not attempt to eat the leaves of the Austroderia richardii as it has very sharp edges and tiny teeth that run along the leaves of the plant which is why it has the nickname ‘cutty grass’ (Kimberley, 2011). As well as having the ability to cut predators they are also of low palatability to introduced herbivores which means its taste is not very satisfying at all to the animals so they get no enjoyment out of eating it. [2] It has been known that some grazing stock will eat the leaves but it is not enough to be a threat to the species.

Cultivation

A. richardii is widely cultivated in temperate regions for its plumes of silvery white inflorescences that appear in summer and last until well into winter, and grow to 60 cm (24 in). Like its relatives it is much used in dried flower arrangements. [7] It has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. [8]

A. richardii is the only native New Zealand species in the genus Austroderia that is offered for sale within New Zealand. It is often sold for its ornamental value and is very hard to obtain therefore is only available through nurseries that specialize in native plants. [9] A. richardii generally grows in clumps of around five or six plants. This is likely due to the way the seeds are dispersed, through wind dispersal. It acts as a good wind-break for stock as they grow in clumps and are very hardy plants that can withstand many weather conditions. [2] Botanists will often remove the old stalks that are no longer flowering so that they have a more appealing look and act as an ornamental feature in a garden or in their natural habitats. [10]

To break the dormancy of A. richardii species it is suggested that they undergo stratification of the seed by chilling it. The seed is placed in water overnight to soak, once this has occurred it is drained and then kept moist in a refrigerator for around a 4-week period. After this period the seed will be able to germinate and propagate into seedlings. Toetoe can also be propagated by division. Juvenile plants are easy to divide and grow more effectively in comparison to mature plants. [10]

Related Research Articles

<i>Cortaderia</i> Genus of grasses

Cortaderia is a genus of South American and Central American plants in the Poaceae grass family.

<i>Griselinia littoralis</i> Species of tree

Griselinia littoralis, commonly known as kapuka, New Zealand broadleaf or pāpāuma, is a fast-growing small to medium-sized evergreen tree that is native to New Zealand.

<i>Cortaderia selloana</i> Species of plant in the family Poaceae

Cortaderia selloana is a species of flowering plant in the Poaceae family. It is referred to by the common name pampas grass, and is native to southern South America, including the Pampas region after which it is named.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ornamental grass</span> Grass grown as an ornamental plant

Ornamental grasses are grasses grown as ornamental plants. Ornamental grasses are popular in many colder hardiness zones for their resilience to cold temperatures and aesthetic value throughout fall and winter seasons.

<i>Ammophila arenaria</i> Species of flowering plant in the grass family Poaceae

Ammophila arenaria is a species of grass in the family Poaceae. It is known by the common names marram grass and European beachgrass. It is one of two species of the genus Ammophila. It is native to the coastlines of Europe and North Africa where it grows in the sands of beach dunes. It is a perennial grass forming stiff, hardy clumps of erect stems up to 1.2 metres (3.9 ft) in height. It grows from a network of thick rhizomes which give it a sturdy anchor in its sand substrate and allow it to spread upward as sand accumulates. These rhizomes can grow laterally by 2 metres in six months. One clump can produce 100 new shoots annually.

<i>Gynerium</i> Genus of plants

Gynerium is a monotypic genus of Neotropical plants in the grass family, native to Mexico and Colombia, Central America, South America, and the West Indies. It is classified in its own tribe Gynerieae.

<i>Muehlenbeckia astonii</i> Species of shrub

Muehlenbeckia astonii or shrubby tororaro is an endemic New Zealand shrub in the family Polygonaceae. It has distinctive small heart-shaped deciduous leaves amidst a tangle of wiry interlocking branches. Although common in cultivation around the world, it is extremely rare and threatened in the wild.

<i>Cenchrus clandestinus</i> Species of plant

The tropical grass species Cenchrus clandestinus is known by several common names, most often Kikuyu grass, as it is native to the highland regions of East Africa that is home to the Kikuyu people. Because of its rapid growth and aggressive nature, it is categorised as a noxious weed in some regions. However, it is also a popular garden lawn species in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the southern region of California in the United States, as it is inexpensive and moderately drought-tolerant. In addition, it is useful as pasture for livestock grazing and serves as a food source for many avian species, including the long-tailed widowbird. The flowering culms are very short and "hidden" amongst the leaves, giving this species its specific epithet (clandestinus).

<i>Cortaderia jubata</i> Species of plant

Cortaderia jubata is a species of grass known by several common names, including purple pampas grass and Andean pampas grass. It is similar to its more widespread relative, the pampas grass Cortaderia selloana, but it can get quite a bit taller, approaching seven meters in height at maximum.

<i>Salicornia quinqueflora</i> Species of plant

Salicornia quinqueflora, synonym Sarcocornia quinqueflora, commonly known as beaded samphire, bead weed, beaded glasswort or glasswort, is a species of succulent halophytic coastal shrub. It occurs in wetter coastal areas of Australia and New Zealand.

<i>Neyraudia reynaudiana</i> Species of grass

Neyraudia reynaudiana, commonly known as Burma reed, silk reed, cane grass, or false reed, is a tall, perennial, large-plumed grass native to subtropical Asia, but invasive in southern Florida in the United States.

<i>Coprosma rhamnoides</i> Species of flowering plant

Coprosma rhamnoides is an endemic shrub in New Zealand. It forms a small shrub up to 2 m tall. The leaves are very small, simple and variable in shape. The inconspicuous flowers are unisexual and believed to be wind pollinated. It is widespread in occurrence and can be the dominant small leaved divaricating shrub in some locations

<i>Gahnia grandis</i> Species of plant

Gahnia grandis is a tussock-forming perennial plant found in southeastern mainland Australia and Tasmania.

<i>Austroderia</i> Genus of grasses

Austroderia is a genus of five species of tall grasses native to New Zealand, commonly known as toetoe. The species are A. toetoe, A. fulvida, A. splendens, A. richardii and A. turbaria. They were recently reclassified in 2011 from the genus Cortaderia, although their distinctiveness had been recognized as early as 1853.

<i>Cyperus ustulatus</i> Species of plant

Cyperus ustulatus, also known as giant umbrella-sedge or coastal cutty grass is a species of sedge native to New Zealand. C. ustulatus generally grows in coastal or lowland areas near water in the North Island and on the Kermadec Islands.

<i>Megacraspedus calamogonus</i> Species of moth

Megacraspedus calamogonus is a moth of the family Gelechiidae. It was described by Edward Meyrick in 1885. It is endemic to New Zealand.

<i>Veronica strictissima</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae

Veronica strictissima, the Banks Peninsula hebe, is a species of flowering plant in the family Plantaginaceae. It is only found on Banks Peninsula in New Zealand.

<i>Carex pumila</i> Species of grass-like plant

Carex pumila, commonly known as strand sedge or spreading sedge, is a species of sedge of the family Cyperaceae.

<i>Senecio minimus</i> Species of plant

Senecio minimus, commonly known as toothed fireweed and coastal burnweed, is a species of plant in the sunflower family. It is native to Australia and New Zealand, and also naturalized on the Pacific Coast of the United States.

<i>Fuchsia perscandens</i> Species of plant

Fuchsia perscandens, commonly known as climbing fuchsia or scrambling fuchsia, is a plant endemic to New Zealand and belonging to the family Onagraceae. Fuchsia perscandens belongs to the South Pacific Skinnera section, which consists of three species and a hybrid.

References

  1. BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Toetoe". Landcare Research. Landcare Research. Retrieved 9 March 2016.[ permanent dead link ]
  3. "Growing location and species detail".
  4. "Australian Introduction of toetoe".
  5. 1 2 [Cave, Paddison], [Yvonne, Valda] (1999). The gardener's encyclopaedia of New Zealand native plants. Auckland, New Zealand: Godwit Publishing. ISBN   1869620437.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. 1 2 3 Crowe, Andrew (1997). The quickfind guide to growing native plants. New Zealand: Penguin Books. ISBN   0670876429.
  7. RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN   978-1405332965.
  8. "RHS Plant Selector - Cortaderia richardii" . Retrieved 17 July 2013.
  9. Matthews, Julian (1987). New Zealand Native Plants for your Garden. New Zealand: Pacific Publishers. ISBN   0670846163.
  10. 1 2 James, Lawerance (1998). The cultivation of New Zealand native grasses. New Zealand: Godwit. ISBN   1869620232.