Astrebla

Mitchell grass
Astrebla pectinata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
(unranked): Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Astrebla
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 mm average annual rainfall, and a lower limit of 200 mm, and even below in depressions where the water concentrates following rains e.g. 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]

Species[6][7]
  1. Astrebla elymoides - hoop Mitchell grass, the second most common species
  2. Astrebla lappacea - curly Mitchell grass, the most common species
  3. Astrebla pectinata - barley Mitchell grass, the most drought tolerant species
  4. Astrebla squarrosa - bull Mitchell grass, the most flood tolerant species

See also

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
  6. ↑ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  7. ↑ The Plant List search for Astrebla
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