Panicum effusum

Last updated

Panicum effusum
Panicum effusum plant9 (8243439394).jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Panicoideae
Genus: Panicum
Species:
P. effusum
Binomial name
Panicum effusum
Synonyms

Panicum convallium F.Muell.

A large area of Panicum effusum Panicum effusum.jpg
A large area of Panicum effusum

Panicum effusum, commonly known as hairy panic, is a grass native to inland Australia. [2] It occurs in every mainland state, [3] as well as New Guinea. In dry conditions, the fast-growing grass can become a tumbleweed.

Contents

Description

Hairy panic is a perennial grass that reaches 70 centimetres (28 in) high. [3] The leaves have tubercle-based hairs and are up to 5–30 centimetres (2.0–11.8 in) long by 0.4–1 centimetre (0.16–0.39 in) wide. The seed spikes are typically 5–50 centimetres (2.0–19.7 in) long, with the spikelets 2–3 millimetres (0.079–0.118 in) long. [2]

Taxonomy

Prolific Scottish botanist Robert Brown described Panicum effusum in his 1810 work Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen . [4] It still bears its original name. Ferdinand von Mueller described Panicum convallium, which he recorded from the banks of the Torrens and Gawler Rivers, on the Murray River and along the Flinders Ranges, in 1855. [5]

Common names include branched panic, hairy panic, effuse panic, native millet and poison panic. [6]

Distribution and habitat

Found across Australia, particularly in the east and Papua New Guinea, [1] hairy panic occurs on low- to medium-nutrient clay soils over shale or conglomerate. [7] Its large range, abundance and stable population mean that hairy panic is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, and in fact may be becoming more abundant. [1]

Hairy panic is found on the following ecoregions in Australia: Shrubland, grass downs, tropical savanna, desert, woodlands, lowland rainforest, tropical rainforests, montane grasslands, sub-alpine grassland, mangroves, xeric scrub and temperate rainforests.

Ecology

Panicum effusum produces a dry, single-seeded, indehiscent fruit which is eaten by the stubble quail. [7] The seeds are wind-borne, though can also be transported in mud on cars. [7]

The flowering of this plant occurs during summer. It is highly drought-tolerant, but is sensitive to frost.

Under extremely dry conditions, the fast-growing grass becomes a tumbleweed (that has evolved to disperse seeds) and can become a nuisance in residential areas due to the accumulation of grass stalks. [8] In February 2016, the town of Wangaratta, Victoria, was invaded by large numbers of tumbleweeds of the plant, which piled up to roof height in places. [8] Some residents blamed the problem on a local farmer who had failed to upkeep his paddock. [8]

Hairy panic uses C4 carbon fixation, [9] giving it an advantage in conditions of drought and high temperature. [10]

Uses

Hairy panic is a component of pastures, though not usually abundant. It is of moderate nutritional value to livestock. [9] Sheep consuming large quantities of hairy panic within 2–6 weeks of rain can suffer from photosensitivity and the fatal disease called yellow-bighead. [6] [8]

It also has some bush food value. The seeds can be ground and baked. Although there are plenty of seeds they may not be easy to collect. [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Prostanthera incisa</i> Species of flowering plant

Prostanthera incisa, commonly known as cut-leaf mint-bush or native thyme, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It is an erect, strongly aromatic, openly branched shrub with hairy, densely glandular branches, egg-shaped to oblong leaves, and pale mauve to mauve flowers.

<i>Cymbidium suave</i> Species of orchid

Cymbidium suave, commonly known as the snake orchid or grassy boat-lip orchid, is a plant in the orchid family and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is an epiphytic orchid that forms long-lasting clumps of grass-like leaves. Up to fifty crowded olive green to dark or brownish green flowers are borne on an arching flowering stem. Of the three Australian species of Cymbidium, this is the only one that does not have prominent pseudobulbs. It is found in eastern Australia, usually growing in the hollows of old or fallen, decaying trees.

Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen is book dealing with the flora of Australia written by botanist Robert Brown and published in 1810. Often referred to as Prodromus Flora Novae Hollandiae, or by its standard botanical abbreviation Prodr. Fl. Nov. Holland., it was the first attempt at a survey of the Australian flora. It described over 2040 species, over half of which were published for the first time.

<i>Ehretia acuminata</i> Species of tree

Ehretia acuminata is a deciduous tree found in Japan, China, Bhutan, Nepal, Laos, Vietnam, New Guinea and Australia. Fossil evidence suggests an ancient Laurasian origin. This group of plants spread to Australia and South America via Africa, when these continents were still joined.

<i>Parsonsia straminea</i> Species of vine

Parsonsia straminea, commonly known as common silkpod or monkey rope, is a woody vine of the dogbane family, Apocynaceae. It occurs in the states of New South Wales and Queensland in Australia.

<i>Cryptocarya obovata</i> Species of tree

Cryptocarya obovata is a species of laurel growing on basaltic and fertile alluvial soils in eastern Australian rainforests. It is found from Wyong in New South Wales to Gympie in the state of Queensland. Extinct in the Illawarra region, allegedly last seen in the Illawarra in 1818 by Allan Cunningham. The species was included in the Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen, 402 (1810)

<i>Dendrobium teretifolium</i> Species of orchid

Dendrobium teretifolium, commonly known as the thin pencil orchid, rat's tail orchid or bridal veil orchid, is an epiphytic or lithophytic orchid in the family Orchidaceae. It has long, thin hanging stems, pencil-like leaves and rigid flowering stems bearing up to twelve crowded white to cream-coloured flowers. It grows in rainforest and humid open forest mostly in near-coastal districts in New South Wales and Queensland.

<i>Cymbidium canaliculatum</i> Species of orchid

Cymbidium canaliculatum, commonly known as the channelled boat-lip orchid, tiger boat-lip orchid, native cymbidium or tiger orchid is a plant in the orchid family and is endemic to Australia. It is a clump-forming epiphyte with large, greyish green pseudobulbs, each with up to six curved, deeply channelled leaves and up to sixty fragrant, variably coloured flowers that often have spots and blotches and a white to cream-coloured labellum with red markings. This orchid usually grows in the forks or hollows of trees and is found from New South Wales to the northern parts of Western Australia.

<i>Anisopogon</i> Genus of grasses

Anisopogon is a genus of Australian plants in the grass family. The only known species is Anisopogon avenaceus, native to Victoria and New South Wales. It is known commonly as oat speargrass. It is a perennial grass growing up to 1.5 metres tall, bearing spikelets up to 6 centimetres long.

<i>Pseuderanthemum variabile</i> Species of flowering plant in the family Acanthaceae

Pseuderanthemum variabile, commonly known as pastel flower or love flower in its native range, or night and afternoon in the USA, is a small perennial herb in the family Acanthaceae which is native to Australia, Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia. It can be an unwelcome nuisance in orchid nurseries in Australia.

<i>Ajuga australis</i> Species of flowering plant

Ajuga australis, commonly known as Austral bugle, is a herbaceous flowering plant native to Eastern Australia. First described by Robert Brown, it is occasionally seen in horticulture.

<i>Leucopogon juniperinus</i> Species of shrub

Leucopogon juniperinus, commonly known as prickly beard-heath, is a species of flowering plant in the heath family Ericaceae and is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It is an erect, densely-branched shrub with oblong to more or less egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base, and white, tube-shaped flowers arranged singly in upper leaf axils.

<i>Chloanthes</i> Genus of flowering plants

Chloanthes is a genus of four species of flowering plants in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to Australia. Plants in this genus are shrubs with hairy foliage, blistered or wrinkly leaves and flowers with five petals fused at the base, usually with two "lips".

<i>Schizaea rupestris</i> Species of fern

Schizaea rupestris is a small Australian fern. Most populations are in found in the ranges near Sydney. However, it also occurs near Woolgoolga and Western Australia.

<i>Pollia crispata</i>

Pollia crispata is a perennial herb found in rainforest or rainforest margins in eastern Australia. The specific epithet crispata is derived from Latin, meaning "wavy". Found from near Nowra in New South Wales to tropical Queensland.

<i>Entolasia marginata</i> Species of grass

Entolasia marginata, known as the bordered panic grass, is a species of grass found in eastern Australia, tropical Asia and the Pacific region.

<i>Lepidosperma viscidum</i> Species of plant

Lepidosperma viscidum, the sticky saw sedge, is a grass like plant found in south eastern Australia. Usually seen in heath and woodland on sandy and rocky sites, it may grow to 60 centimetres high. This is one of the many plants first published by Robert Brown with the type known as "(M.) v.v." appearing in his Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen in 1810. The specific epithet viscidum is derived from the Latin with a meaning of "sticky", which refers to the sticky resin from the base and margins of the leaves and stem margins. On drying, the resin turns a red colour.

<i>Prostanthera violacea</i> Species of flowering plant

Prostanthera violacea, commonly known as violet mint-bush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Lamiaceae and is endemic to south-eastern New South Wales. It is a slender, strongly aromatic shrub with densely hairy branches, more or less round leaves with the edges rolled under and mauve to bluish flowers often with white tips.

<i>Schoenus villosus</i> Species of grass-like plant

Schoenus villosus, known as the hairy bog-rush, is a species of sedge native to Australia. A tufted perennial grass-like plant growing from 15 to 40 cm tall. The stem is grooved, 1.2 to 1.7 mm wide. Found near the coast or nearby ranges in Queensland and New South Wales. Growing in heath or woodland, on sandy soils. The specific epithet villosus is derived from Latin, meaning "hairy". One of the many plants first published by Robert Brown with the type known as "(J.) v.v." Appearing in his Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen in 1810.

<i>Epacris paludosa</i> Species of flowering plant

Epacris paludosa, commonly known as swamp heath, is a species of flowering plant from the heath family, Ericaceae, and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is an erect, bushy shrub with lance-shaped, elliptic or egg-shaped leaves and tube-shaped white or cream-coloured flowers in crowded, leafy heads at the ends of branches.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Thacker, H. (2013). "Panicum effusum". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2013: e.T44392613A44489113. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T44392613A44489113.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 Walker, Karen; Burrows, Geoff; McMahon, Lynne (2001). 'Bidgee bush : an identification guide to common native plant species of the south western slopes of New South Wales. Yarralumla, Australian Capital Territory: Greening Australia. p. 88. ISBN   1-875345-61-2.
  3. 1 2 "Panicum effusum R.Br". New South Wales Flora Online. PlantNET. Retrieved 12 April 2010.
  4. Brown, Robert (1810). Prodromus Florae Novae Hollandiae et Insulae Van Diemen (in Latin). London, United Kingdom: Richard Taylor and Company. p. 191.
  5. von Mueller, Ferdinand (1855). "Description of fifty new Australian plants, chiefly from the colony of Victoria". Transactions and Proceedings of the Victorian Institute for the Advancement of Science. 1: 46.
  6. 1 2 Cunningham, Geoff M.; Mulham, William E.; Milthorpe, Peter L.; Leigh, John H. (1981). Plants of Western New South Wales. Sydney, New South Wales: NSW Government Printing Service. pp. 119–20. ISBN   0-7240-2003-9.
  7. 1 2 3 Benson, Doug; McDougall, Lyn (2005). "Ecology of Sydney Plant Species Part 10: Monocotyledon familiesLemnaceae to Zosteraceae" (PDF). Cunninghamia. 9 (1): 16–212 [161]. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-02-20.
  8. 1 2 3 4 "Australia town consumed by 'hairy panic'". BBC News. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  9. 1 2 NSW Department of Primary Industries. "Hairy panic". Agriculture. NSW Government. Archived from the original on 20 February 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  10. NSW Department of Primary Industries. "What are C3 and C4 Native Grass?". Agriculture. NSW Government. Archived from the original on 29 February 2016. Retrieved 19 February 2016.
  11. "Aboriginal Plant Use – Southern Tablelands and the ACT". February 2003.