Aristida calycina, commonly known as dark wiregrass,[1] is a species of grass in the family Poaceae that is native in Australia.
| Dark wiregrass | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Genus: | Aristida |
| Species: | A. calycina
|
| Binomial name | |
| Aristida calycina | |
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Description
editThe grass-like or herbaceous perennial plant has a compact or loosely tufted habit and typically grows to a height of 0.3 to 2 m (1 ft 0 in to 6 ft 7 in).[1][2] It is strongly branched and has wiry culms. The leaves have smooth or scaberulous sheaths with a ligule that is approximately 0.3 mm (0.012 in) in length. The blade is convolute or conduplicate or sometimes but in some cases is flat with a width of around 1.5 mm (0.059 in). It has lanceolate shaped glumes that are 6 to 20 mm (0.24 to 0.79 in) in length with the upper portion being obtuse and the lower part acute to acuminate. The linear to elliptic lemma is purple or brown in colour with even darker margins and 6 to 9 mm (0.24 to 0.35 in) in length. The divergent flattened awns have a length of up to 30 mm (1.2 in).[2]
Taxonomy
editThe species was first formally described by the botanist Robert Brown in 1810 as part of the work Prodromus florae Novae Hollandiae et insulae Van-Diemen, exhibens characteres plantarum quas annis 1802-1805. Synonyms include Aristida glumaris, Chaetaria calicina and Aristida calycina var. typica.[3]
There are three varieties of this species:
Distribution
editAristida calycina is found mostly in the eastern states of mainland Australia, Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales and parts of the Northern Territory with a scattered distribution that thins toward the west.[3] In New South Wales it is found in all areas apart from the far south west and grows in sandy poor soils.[2]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Aristida calycina". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ a b c "Aristida calycina R.Br". PlantNet. Royal Botanic Garden, Sydney. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
- ^ a b "Aristida calycina R.Br". Atlas of Living Australia. Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
- ^ "Aristida calycina". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ "Aristida calycina var. filifolia B.K.Simon". Atlas of Living Australia. Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
- ^ "Aristida calycina var. praealta Domin". Atlas of Living Australia. Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 16 January 2019.