Family: Poaceae
Aristida contorta
Citation:
F. Muell., J. Trans. Vict. Inst. 1:44 (1855).
Synonymy: A. arenaria Gaudich., Voy. aut. Monde (Bot.) 407 (1829), non Trin.; A. contorta F. Muell. var. hirsuta (Henrard)H. Eichler, Suppl. 48 (1965).
Common name: Mulga grass, sand wire-grass, sand speargrass, (bunched) kerosene grass, wind (or silver) grass.
Description:
Tufted ephemeral to 35 cm tall; leaf blades filiform, glabrous or hairy, more or less wavy, to 8 cm long.
Inflorescence 7-20 x 3-8 cm; glumes very unequal, 1-nerved, purple to straw-coloured, mucronate to aristulare, the lower 8-14 mm long, the upper 15-30 mm long; lemma 5-7 mm long (including the callus of 1.5-2 mm), convolute, smooth (punctulate near the apex), with an articulation below a twisted column 9-30 mm long; awns subequal, 2-7 cm long; grain 3-4 mm long, with a hilum 1.7-2.3 mm long.
Published illustration:
Cunningham et al. (1982) Plants of western New South Wales, pl. 8h & p. 56.
Distribution:
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S.Aust.: NW, LE, NU, GT, FR, EA, EP, NL, MU, SL. All mainland States.
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Conservation status:
native
Flowering time: throughout the year, especially spring.
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SA Distribution Map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of South Australia
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Biology:
Regarded as a valuable dry-area grazing grass; the ripe florets can, however, be harmful to animals.
Author:
Not yet available
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