Astrebla

Short description: Genus of grasses

Mitchell grass

Astrebla pectinata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:  | Plantae
Clade:  | Tracheophytes
Clade:  | Angiosperms
Clade:  | Monocots
Clade:  | Commelinids
Order:  | Poales
Family:  | Poaceae
Subfamily:  | Chloridoideae
Tribe:  | Cynodonteae
Subtribe:  | Eleusininae
Genus:  | Astrebla
F.Muell.[1]
Type species
Astrebla pectinata

(Lindl.) F.Muell. ex Benth.

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 millimetres or 24 inches and a lower limit of 200 millimetres or 8 inches average annual rainfall, and at even lower rainfall in depressions where the water concentrates following rains, for example 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]

They are commonly found clumped together and reaching one metre high, providing habitat for organisms such as mammals.[6]

Species[7][8]
Scientific name  | Common name  | Characteristics

|
|

Astrebla elymoides | hoop Mitchell grass  | the second most common species
Astrebla lappacea | curly Mitchell grass  | the most common species
Astrebla pectinata | barley Mitchell grass  | the most drought-tolerant species
Astrebla squarrosa | bull Mitchell grass  | the most flood-tolerant species

## See also

* List of Poaceae genera

## 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. https://web.archive.org/web/20090417014634/http://delta-intkey.com/grass/www/astrebla.htm. 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". http://www.tropicalforages.info/key/Forages/Media/Html/Astrebla_spp.htm.
6. ↑ Andrew, David (2015). "Appendix D [glassary]". Complete Guide to Finding the Mammals of Australia.. Clayton South, Victoria: CSIRO Publishing. p. 399. ISBN 9780643098145.
7. ↑ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
8. ↑ The Plant List search for Astrebla

Wikidata ☰ Q310444 entry

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