Lachnagrostis billardierei

Lachnagrostis billardierei, commonly known as coast blown-grass or sand wind grass, is a species of plant in the true grass family. The genus name means “woolly agrostis” with reference to the closely related genus Agrostis; the specific epithet billardierei honours French botanist Jacques Labillardière (1755-1834).[1]

Lachnagrostis billardierei
Specimen growing in Kiritehere Beach, North Island of New Zealand
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Pooideae
Genus: Lachnagrostis
Species:
L. billardierei
Binomial name
Lachnagrostis billardierei
(R.Br.) Trin.
Subspecies
  • L. b. subsp. billardierei
  • L. b. subsp. tenuiseta (D.Morris) S.W.L.Jacobs
Synonyms
  • Agrostis billardierei R.Br.
  • Deyeuxia billardierei (R.Br.) Kunth.
  • Calamagrostis billardierei (R.Br.) Steud.

Description

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It grows as a smooth, tufted annual or short-lived perennial grass up to about 50 cm in height. It is usually found on sandy, soils along or near the coast. It forms circular tufts of leaf blades and straw-coloured flowers. The seeds are wind-dispersed.[2]

Distribution

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Its principal area of occurrence is south-eastern Australia and New Zealand, though there are also records from the Warren IBRA bioregion of south-western Western Australia.[3] The subspecies L. b. tenuiseta was once thought to be endemic to Tasmania (where it is commonly known as small-awned blown-grass),[4] though it has subsequently been recorded from New Zealand.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Lachnagrostis billardierei subsp. tenuiseta". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. 2013-12-08. Retrieved 2014-08-05.
  2. ^ Anon (2009). Plants that Clothe the Bluff. Barwon Heads: Victoria: Friends of the Bluff. p. 23.
  3. ^ "Lachnagrostis billardierei". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
  4. ^ "Lachnagrostis billardierei subsp. tenuiseta" (PDF). Threatened Flora of Tasmania. Dept of Primary Industries, Water and Environment, Tasmania. 2003-08-15. Retrieved 2014-08-05.