Eragrostis setifolia

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Eragrostis setifolia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Eragrostis
Species:
E. setifolia
Binomial name
Eragrostis setifolia

Eragrostis setifolia, commonly known as neverfail grass, is a species of perennial grass in the family Poaceae native to Australia, where it is widespread and common throughout the range lands and is commonly utilized as a pasture grass.[1] According to IUCN classification it is listed as a least concern species throughout most of its range with the exception of Victoria where it is classified as vulnerable.[2] It is capable of C4 photosynthesis.[3]

Taxonomy[edit]

The grass belongs to Eragrostis, the most species rich genus within the subfamily Chloridoideae.[4] The genus was first described by Nathanael Matthaeus von Wolf in 1776 and currently has approximately 350 species.[4] Eragrostis setifolia was classified as a species by Nees in 1843.[5]

Description[edit]

Eragrostis setifolia is an erect perennial tussock forming grass.[6] It may reach a height of 60 cm (24 in), however it is most commonly between 10–50 cm tall.[1][6] The species has a poorly developed rhizome and produces a compact tussock.[1] The morphology of the cataphylls can vary from hairless to bearing hair like projections.[6] Cataphylls are often either shiny or leathery and may be oval shaped or tapered.[6] The leaves are generally rough and glabrous.[6] The culms are wrapped in broad sheaths.[6] Leaves are generally about 4–13 cm in length, rolled and taper to point.[6] The flowers of this grass are dense and pointed.[1] They are approximately 3–12 cm in length and reach a width of 1.5–3 cm.[1] The flowers range from pale to light purple in colour and are attached via short branches up to 3 cm in length.[1] The grass produces 10-50 spikelets with a pale to slightly purple shade.[1] Spikelets reach approximately 2 cm in length and 1.5 cm in width.[1] Seeds are small only reaching 0.08 mg in mass.[7]

Distribution[edit]

Eragrostis setifolia is an Australian native common throughout the semi-arid interior of Australia.[2] It is found in all mainland Australian states with the highest density in western New South Wales, South Australia and the Northern Territory.[2] It tends to be most commonly associated with semi-arid woodlands and shrub-lands including Coolibah and black box woodlands and salt bush communities.[1][6] This grass is also a common component of native grasslands including Mitchell grasslands.[8] Eragrostis setifolia is most abundant in relatively moist refuges within its habitat range.[9] It tends to be associated with low lying areas.[10] The most favourable habitat for Eragrostis setifolia is land that is subject to periodic inundation such as gilgais and floodplains.[10] This grass is most abundant in clay dominated soils ranging from red, brown, grey or black clay.[6] The affinity to clay soils is due to the high water holding capacity of these soils.[9] It is less common in sandy areas however it may also inhabit sandy/loam environments that are subject to flooding (e.g. near flood plains or water courses).[6] It is occasionally found on found in saline or calcareous soils.[6] Eragrostis setifolia is tolerant or even favoured by infertile soils.[11]

Ecology and uses[edit]

Eragrostis setifolia is a summer growing (C4) grass.[3] It is capable of year round flowering and seed set.[1] It tends to respond positively to rainfall events with growth, germination and flowering coinciding with rainfall and water availability.[12] Germination is highly dependent on rainfall and is severely depauparate in the absence of moisture.[12][7] It is quite drought tolerant and tends to die back during severe water shortages only to re-sprout again in periods of rain.[1] The grass also appears to readily colonise burnt areas such as burnt spinifex grasslands.[13]

It is commonly grazed by native herbivores such as macro pods, the red kangaroo in particular preferably grazes it.[14] Its main use for humans is its value for livestock grazing.[1] Eragrostis setifolia is relatively resilient and productive and thus it is often considered a useful fodder plant.[6] It is tolerant to grazing when compared to other native grasses (such as Mitchell grass) and can withstand grazing pressure that would lead to the elimination of other native grasses.[15] In addition to being consumed by native wildlife it provides important habitat for native species such as the plains rat (Pseudomys australis).

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Cunningham, G. M., Mulham, W. E., Milthorpe, P. L., & Leigh, J. H. (1981). Plants of western New South Wales
  2. ^ a b c Atlas of Living Australia. (2019). Eragrostis setifolia Nees. Retrieved from https://bie.ala.org.au/species/http://id.biodiversity.org.au/node/apni/2900475
  3. ^ a b Prendergast, Hattersley, Stone & Lazarides. "C4 acid decarboxylation type in Eragrostis (Poaceae) patterns of variation in chloroplast position, ultrastructure and geographical distribution." Plant, Cell & Environment, 1986
  4. ^ a b Van den Borre, A., & Watson, L. (1994). The infrageneric classification of Eragrostis (Poaceae). Taxon, 383-422.
  5. ^ Hooker, W. J. (Ed.). (1843). Hooker's journal of botany and Kew Garden miscellany (Vol. 1). Reeve, Benham and Reeve.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Lazarides, M. (1997). A revision of Eragrostis (Eragrostideae, Eleusininae, Poaceae) in Australia. Australian Systematic Botany, 10(1), 77-187.
  7. ^ a b Silcock, R. G., Williams, L. M., & Smith, F. (1990). Quality and storage characteristics of the seeds of important native pasture species in south-west Queensland. The Rangeland Journal, 12(1), 14-20.
  8. ^ Davidson, D. (1954). The Mitchell grass association of the Longreach district.
  9. ^ a b Brandle, R., Moseby, K. E., & Adams, M. (1999). The distribution, habitat requirements and conservation status of the plains rat, Pseudomys australis (Rodentia: Muridae). Wildlife Research, 26(4), 463-477.
  10. ^ a b Newsome, A. E. (1965). The abundance of red kangaroos, Megaleia rufa (Desmarest), in central Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology, 13(2), 269-288.
  11. ^ Friedel, M. H., Cellier, K. M., & Nicolson, K. P. (1980). Nutrient deficiencies in central Australian semi-desert rangelands, with reference to decline in range condition. The Rangeland Journal, 2(2), 151-161.
  12. ^ a b Grice, A. C., Bowman, A., & Toole, I. (1995). Effects of temperature and age on the germination of naked caryopses of indigenous grasses of western New South Wales. The Rangeland Journal, 17(2), 128-137.
  13. ^ Morton, S. R., Masters, P., & Hobbs, T. J. (1993). Estimates of abundance of burrowing frogs in spinifex grasslands of the Tanami Desert, Northern Territory. Beagle: Records of the Museums and Art Galleries of the Northern Territory, The, 10, 67.
  14. ^ Norbury, G. L., Norbury, D. C., & Hacker, R. B. (1993). Impact of Red Kangaroos on the Pasture Layer in the Western Australian Arid Zone. The Rangeland Journal, 15(1), 12-23.
  15. ^ Friedel, M. H. (1997). Discontinuous change in arid woodland and grassland vegetation along gradients of cattle grazing in central Australia. Journal of Arid Environments, 37(1), 145-164.
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