Baloskion tetraphyllum

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Baloskion tetraphyllum
Baloskion tetraphyllum clump good.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Restionaceae
Genus: Baloskion
Species:
B. tetraphyllum
Binomial name
Baloskion tetraphyllum
Synonyms

Restio tetraphyllusLabill.
Baloskion dichotomum Raf. nom. illeg.

Contents

Baloskion tetraphyllum, commonly known as tassel rope-rush, is a species of grass native to Australia. [1] It is a large and somewhat common species of restionaceae which can be easily identified by its bright green colour and its tasseled branches with soft, hairlike texture.

Description

Baloskion tetraphyllum is an understory species which grows between 0.5-2m tall. It is a semi-erect perennial herb with rigid emergent stems (or culms) which, through repeated branching, reduces in internal rigidity causing the plant to droop along the end of its stem. These stems are hollow towards the base and have an initial diameter of 3-5mm before they branch.

B. tetraphyllum appears in clusters which are typically greater than 1m wide; these vary from being very tightly packed, to occurring in more spread-out bunches. B. tetraphyllum has smooth, beautifully bright green culms which repeatedly branch into whorls out of tan coloured sheaths.

The reproductive structure of this plant occurs as a bunch of narrow spikelets at the end of the branches, these are its flowers which are tan colour and can be found from 15-450 times per branch.

There are two plants which can look very similar to B. tetraphyllum, and telling the difference between these and B. tetraphyllum can be very easy if you know what to look for. Baloskion australe is very closely related, however its completely erect stems do not branch into feathery tassels like the B. tetraphyllum and it is much smaller, only reaching 0.35-1m tall. [2] Even more closely related is the subspecies of B. tetraphyllum, Meiostachyum, which is smaller and found in warmer climates, typically between south-east Queensland and north-east New South Wales, and it has a greater number of spikelets, between 200 and 450. [3]

Range map of Baloskion tetraphyllum from Atlas of Living Australia Baloskion tetraphyllum range map.png
Range map of Baloskion tetraphyllum from Atlas of Living Australia

Habitat & Distribution

B. tetraphyllum can be found growing in swampy places, such as stream banks and wetlands. It grows well in disturbed areas, often seen growing at the edge of carparks and beside walking trails. B. tetraphyllum will grow well in both sand and peat soils.

B. tetraphyllum has a very widespread range and can be found continually along the east of Australia from Queensland to Tasmania. In Tasmania the range of this plant is typically restrained to the western side of Tyler’s Line. [1]

Reproductive structure of Baloskion tetraphyllum showing spikelet arrangement Baloskion tetraphyllum inflorescence (11878757296).jpg
Reproductive structure of Baloskion tetraphyllum showing spikelet arrangement

Ecology

B. tetraphyllum uses wind dispersal to reproduce, the seeds detach with the flower which act as wings to help the seed put distance between itself and the parent plant. [4] B. tetraphyllum is an obligate seeder and typically needs fire to germinate, meaning reproduction has far better luck when a fire passes through an area. B. tetraphyllum is not able to resprout following a fire and completely relies on its seeds to regenerate, this becomes an issue if there is a short interval between fires and the seedbank cannot be replenished between instances of fire [5] .

Uses

Single stem of Baloskion tetraphyllum Baloskion tetraphyllum branch - purple.jpg
Single stem of Baloskion tetraphyllum

B. tetraphyllum is a beautiful grass which is often used as a decorative garden species and sold for its cut flowers; it is also a plant which has been used for wetland and mine site rehabilitation. [5] B. tetraphyllum’s close relationship with fire, as well as its fussy nature during propagation, has led to research into increasing propagation success through a variety of methods, this has yielded results which make the production of the species a lot easier. [5] [6]

Taxonomy & Naming

B. tetraphyllum was initially described by Jacques Labillardière in 1806 in his series Novae Hollandiae Plantarum Specimen where it was placed in the genus Restio , it was known as Restio tetraphyllum until 1998 when it was moved into the Baloskion genus. [6]

As it has such a wide range across Australia B. tetraphyllum has been blessed quite a few common names, these include: Australian reed, Dingo fern, Feather-plant, Feathertop, Hair-plant, Koala fern and Plume rush.

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. 1 2 Kodela, P.G. (2024). "Baloskion tetraphyllum". Flora of Australia. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  2. Falster, Gallagher (2021). "Species: Baloskion australe (Mountain Cord-Rush)". AusTraits. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  3. Kodela, P.G. (2022). "Baloskion tetraphyllum subsp. meiostachyum". Flora of Australia. Retrieved 2024-04-02.
  4. Briggs, Barbara Gillian; Connelly, Carolyn L. (2022). "Seeds and indehiscent fruit of Anarthriaceae and Australian Restionaceae: a gallery of micromorphology". Telopea. 25: 7–32. doi:10.7751/telopea15543. ISSN   2200-4025.
  5. 1 2 3 Panaia, M.; Senaratna, T.; Dixon, K. W.; Sivasithamparam, K. (2004). "High-frequency somatic embryogenesis of koala fern (Baloskion tetraphyllum, restionaceae)". In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant. 40 (3): 303–310. doi:10.1079/IVP2004534. ISSN   1054-5476.
  6. 1 2 Briggs, Barbara; Johnson, Lawrence (1998). "New combinations arising from a new classification of non-African Restionaceae". Telopea. 8 (1): 21–33. doi:10.7751/telopea19982011.