Cymbopogon refractus
{{Short description|Species of grass}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2024}}
{{speciesbox
|image = Barbed-wire grass (3211604887).jpg
|genus = Cymbopogon
|species = refractus
|authority = (R.Br.) Camus
|synonyms =
{{Plainlist | style = margin-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em; |
- Andropogon refractus R. Br.
}}
|synonyms_ref =
}}
Cymbopogon refractus, commonly known as barbed wire grass,{{cite web |url=http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/NSWfl.pl?page=nswfl&lvl=sp&name=Cymbopogon~refractus |title=Cymbopogon refractus|accessdate=2 April 2019 |author=|work= PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online |publisher=Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia}} is a species of perennial grass in the genus Cymbopogon of the family Poaceae. It is native to Australia.
Description
Cymbopogon refractus is a tufted perennial bunchgrass, without stolons or rhizomes. The culms, or stems of the grass are to {{convert|1|m|abbr=on}} in height and branching at the nodes. The nodes are purplish and hairless.
The leaves of the plant are basal and on the stems.{{cite book|last1=Fairley |first1=Alan |last2=Moore |first2=Philip |title=Native Plants of the Sydney District: From Newcastle to Nowra and west to the Dividing Range |year=2010 |edition=3rd |publisher=Allen & Unwin |page=520 |location=Crows Nest, NSW |isbn=978-1-74175-571-8 |oclc=640122817
}} The leaf is hairless and when crushed gives off a lemon-ginger scent like other grasses in the genus Cymbopogon.
The inflorescence of the plant, or the collections of flowers, are arranged on a {{convert|10-45|cm|abbr=on}} long stem with clusters of short, nearly hairless branches which bend downwards when mature, giving the inflorescence a barbed-wire appearance. The spikelets are paired, one stalked the other unstalked. Flowering mostly spring to autumn.
Taxonomy
Cymbopogon refractus was first described by R. Brown in 1810 as Andropogon refractus, but in 1921 was placed in the genus Cymbopogon by Camus.{{cite web |url=https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/rest/name/apni/93932/api/apni-format|title=Cymbopogon refractus |accessdate=2 April 2019 |work= Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database|publisher = Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra}}{{cite web |url=https://biodiversity.org.au/nsl/services/rest/name/apni/90079/api/apni-format
|title=Andropogon refractus |accessdate=2 April 2019 |work= Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database|publisher = Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra}}
Habitat and ecology
Cymbopogon refractus is widespread on poor soils of roadsides, native pastures, woodlands and forests of Queensland, New South Wales, the Northern Territory, and Victoria. It is very drought tolerant but readily frosted.{{cite book |last1=Rose |first1=Harry |last2=Rose |first2=Carol |title=Grasses of Coastal NSW |date=2012 |publisher=Department of Primary Industries|location=Paterson NSW |isbn=978-1-74256-260-5 |page=168 |oclc=954615661}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{cite web |title=Cymbopogon refractus (R.Br.) A.Camus — Barbed-Wire Grass |publisher=Atlas of Living Australia |url=https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://id.biodiversity.org.au/node/apni/2914400}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q15514799}}
Category:Bunchgrasses of Australasia