Cymbopogon refractus, commonly known as barbed wire grass,[1] is a species of perennial grass in the genus Cymbopogon of the family Poaceae. It is native to Australia.
| Cymbopogon refractus | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Subfamily: | Panicoideae |
| Genus: | Cymbopogon |
| Species: | C. refractus
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| Binomial name | |
| Cymbopogon refractus (R.Br.) Camus
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| Synonyms | |
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Description edit
Cymbopogon refractus is a tufted perennial bunchgrass, without stolons or rhizomes. The culms, or stems of the grass are to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in height and branching at the nodes. The nodes are purplish and hairless.[2]
The leaves of the plant are basal and on the stems.[2] The leaf is hairless and when crushed gives off a lemon-ginger scent[3] like other grasses in the genus Cymbopogon.
The inflorescence of the plant, or the collections of flowers, are arranged on a 10–45 cm (3.9–17.7 in) 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. [3] Flowering mostly spring to autumn.[1]
Taxonomy edit
Cymbopogon refractus was first described by R. Brown in 1810 as Andropogon refractus,[4] but in 1921 was placed in the genus Cymbopogon by Camus.[5][4]
Habitat and ecology edit
Cymbopogon refractus is widespread on poor soils of roadsides, native pastures, woodlands and forests[3] of Queensland, New South Wales, the Northern Territory, and Victoria.[1] It is very drought tolerant but readily frosted.[3]
References edit
- ^ a b c "Cymbopogon refractus". PlantNET - New South Wales Flora Online. Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney Australia. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
- ^ a b Fairley, Alan; Moore, Philip (2010). Native Plants of the Sydney District: From Newcastle to Nowra and west to the Dividing Range (3rd ed.). Crows Nest, New South Wales: Allen & Unwin. p. 520.
- ^ a b c d Rose, Harry; Rose, Carol (2012). Grasses of Coastal NSW (1st ed.). Paterson NSW: Department of Primary Industries. p. 168. ISBN 9781742562605.
- ^ a b "Andropogon refractus". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 2 April 2019.
- ^ "Cymbopogon refractus". Australian Plant Name Index (APNI), IBIS database. Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government, Canberra. Retrieved 2 April 2019.