Alexfloydia is a genus of perennial stoloniferous grasses in the panic grass subfamily of the Poaceae grass family.[1][2]

Alexfloydia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Panicoideae
Supertribe: Panicodae
Tribe: Paniceae
Subtribe: Cenchrinae
Genus: Alexfloydia
B.K.Simon
Species:
A. repens
Binomial name
Alexfloydia repens

This genus is endemic to coastal eastern New South Wales in Australia.

There is one known species, Alexfloydia repens.[3] This genus was named in honour of the species discoverer, Australian botanist Alexander Floyd (1926-2022).[4][5]

Habitat and distribution

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Alexfloydia repens is a spreading, mat-forming grass found on the margins of brackish and tidal waterways in areas flooded by unusually high tides (called "king tides").[6] The species forms a groundcover associated with the tree species Casuarina glauca and the Endangered Ecological Community Swamp Oak Floodplain Forest. Currently this grass is known only from a few locations in the Coffs Harbour region.

Status

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This species is listed as Endangered on the schedules of the NSW Threatened Species Act.[7]

Ecology

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Alexfloydia repens is the sole larval food plant for the endangered Black grass-dart butterfly (Ocybadistes knightorum) (Lambkin & Donaldson, 1994).[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Watson L, Dallwitz MJ. (2008). "The grass genera of the world: descriptions, illustrations, identification, and information retrieval; including synonyms, morphology, anatomy, physiology, phytochemistry, cytology, classification, pathogens, world and local distribution, and references". The Grass Genera of the World. Retrieved 2009-08-19.
  2. ^ Simon, B.K. 1992. Studies in Australian grasses 6. Alexfloydia, Cliffordiochloa and Dallwatsonia, three new panicoid grass genera from Eastern Australia. Austrobaileya 3:669-681.
  3. ^ "Alexfloydia". The Grass Genera of the World. Archived from the original on 14 May 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-02.
  4. ^ "Alexander G. Floyd (1926 - 2022)". Australian National Herbarium. Retrieved 2008-04-02.
  5. ^ Atlas of Living Australia, Alexfloydia B.K.Simon
  6. ^ Tidal Variations — The Influence of Position and Distance NOAA ocean service education
  7. ^ "Black grass-dart butterfly - endangered species listing". Department of Environment & Climate Change (NSW). Archived from the original on 2006-09-07. Retrieved 2008-04-02.
  8. ^ "Alexfloydia repens (a grass) - endangered species listing". Department of Environment & Climate Change (NSW). Retrieved 2008-04-02.