Neurachne alopecuroidea 0
Author: Robert Brown (1773-1858)Family: Poaceae Subfamily: Panicoideae Tribe: Paniceae
Genus: Neurachne
English name: Foxtail Mulga Grass
Zone: Australia
Description
This species is from Western Australia, South Australia and Victoria. It grows in temperate heaths, mallee heaths, dry sclerophyll forests, temperate sub-humid woodlands, and eucalypt shrublands.
Neurachne alopecuroidea Observed in Australia by Alan Dandie (license)
Botanical Description
This is a perennial. Rhizomes are present, short. The culms are erect, 20-60cm tall, 2-4-noded. The mid-culm nodes are pubescent or bearded. The leaf-sheaths are smooth, glabrous on surface. The ligule is a fringe of hairs, 0.4-0.8mm long. The leaf-blades are flat or involute, 4-16cm long, 1-3mm wide. The leaf-blade surface is smooth, glabrous or indumented.
The inflorescence is solid, a raceme. The panicle is oblong or ovate, 1-2.5cm long. The spikelets are pedicelled. The fertile spikelets are 2-flowered, the lower floret barren (rarely male), the upper fertile, comprising 1 basal sterile floret, comprising 1 fertile floret, without rachilla extension, lanceolate, dorsally compressed, 8-12mm long.
The glumes are dissimilar, firmer than fertile lemma. The lower glume is lanceolate, chartaceous or cartilaginous, without keels, 5-nerved. Lower glume surface is indumented. The upper glume is lanceolate, 8-12mm long, chartaceous or cartilaginous, 9-11-nerved. The upper glume surface is indumented. The upper glume apex is awned. There is 1 basal sterile floret, barren, without significant palea. The lemma of the lower sterile floret is 60-70 % of length of spikelet, chartaceous, 7-nerved. The fertile lemma is 4.9-6.8mm long, without keel. The palea is without keels. There are 3 anthers.
The inflorescence is solid, a raceme. The panicle is oblong or ovate, 1-2.5cm long. The spikelets are pedicelled. The fertile spikelets are 2-flowered, the lower floret barren (rarely male), the upper fertile, comprising 1 basal sterile floret, comprising 1 fertile floret, without rachilla extension, lanceolate, dorsally compressed, 8-12mm long.
The glumes are dissimilar, firmer than fertile lemma. The lower glume is lanceolate, chartaceous or cartilaginous, without keels, 5-nerved. Lower glume surface is indumented. The upper glume is lanceolate, 8-12mm long, chartaceous or cartilaginous, 9-11-nerved. The upper glume surface is indumented. The upper glume apex is awned. There is 1 basal sterile floret, barren, without significant palea. The lemma of the lower sterile floret is 60-70 % of length of spikelet, chartaceous, 7-nerved. The fertile lemma is 4.9-6.8mm long, without keel. The palea is without keels. There are 3 anthers.
Useful plant
It is decorative in flower and has potential for use in gardens and containers.
References
- Encyclopedia of Australian Plants, Elliot W. Rodger & Jones David L. 2012 Vol. 7 pag. 28. ISBN
- Grasses of Australia. Neurachne alopecuroidea
- Long-term studies of post-fire reproduction in an Australian shrubland and woodland, Harvey, Judith and Hopkins, A. and Langley, M. and Gosper, Carl and Williams, Matthew and Yates, C. Australian Journal of Botany 2017 Vol. 65 pag. . DOI
References
- Encyclopedia of Australian Plants, Elliot W. Rodger & Jones David L. 2012 Vol. 7 pag. 28. ISBN
- Grasses of Australia. Neurachne alopecuroidea
- Long-term studies of post-fire reproduction in an Australian shrubland and woodland, Harvey, Judith and Hopkins, A. and Langley, M. and Gosper, Carl and Williams, Matthew and Yates, C. Australian Journal of Botany 2017 Vol. 65 pag. . DOI
References for the genus
General specifications
Biological type: grass
Frost resistance: 19ºF
Leaf color: dark green
Flower color: dark green
Reproduction mode: cryptogams plant that reproduce via spores
Specifications for the Mediterranean basin
Adult size (h x w): 1,9ft x 1,9ft
Plant with a spacing of: 1,7ft
Sun exposure: part sun (Sun hours: >3h <6h Foliage: evergreen
Growth: fast
Flowering time from March until May
Specific information for our garden
Planting substrate: 30%Compost+30%Coco+40%Sand
Plant watering: 1x a week pH 6.5
Logical sequence of containers for: Grasses; forestry plate, 2L forestry pot, forest pot 3L, container 6L
Propagation is done by root division
Ecology in its country of origin
Rainfall: 300-900mm
Frost resistance: 19ºF
Leaf color: dark green
Flower color: dark green
Reproduction mode: cryptogams plant that reproduce via spores
Specifications for the Mediterranean basin
Adult size (h x w): 1,9ft x 1,9ft
Plant with a spacing of: 1,7ft
Sun exposure: part sun (Sun hours: >3h <6h Foliage: evergreen
Growth: fast
Flowering time from March until May
Specific information for our garden
Planting substrate: 30%Compost+30%Coco+40%Sand
Plant watering: 1x a week pH 6.5
Logical sequence of containers for: Grasses; forestry plate, 2L forestry pot, forest pot 3L, container 6L
Propagation is done by root division
Ecology in its country of origin
Rainfall: 300-900mm
Sowing instructions
SPRING Soak in 50ml ambiant water with a SmokeDisk in for 24h. Sow the seeds on the surface of Well Drained Seed Sowing Mix between 64-72°F. During germination keep the substrate moist and in daylight.
Germination references
- Seed germination ecology in southwestern Western Australia, Bell David T., Plummer Julie A. & Taylor Susan K. The Botanical Review 1993 Vol. 59(1) pag. 24-73. JStor
- Seeds: Ecology, Biogeography, and, Evolution of Dormancy and Germination, Baskin, Carol & Baskin, J.M. 2014 pag. 1-1586. DOI
Germination references
- Seed germination ecology in southwestern Western Australia, Bell David T., Plummer Julie A. & Taylor Susan K. The Botanical Review 1993 Vol. 59(1) pag. 24-73. JStor
- Seeds: Ecology, Biogeography, and, Evolution of Dormancy and Germination, Baskin, Carol & Baskin, J.M. 2014 pag. 1-1586. DOI
Experiences in the garden
12-04-17A Obtaining seeds from seed provider Nindethana Seeds collected in 'Nindethana Seeds6>Stirling Range National Park'. (Wild origin)
03-04-19 Sown 30 seeds in a tray, they did not geminate in Serre4.
Protocol: Spring SmokeDisk Surface Sowing mix+Sand 64-72°F Damp substrate+Light
14-02-19B Obtaining seeds from seed provider Nindethana Seeds collected in 'Nindethana Seeds13>Stirling Range National Park'. (Wild origin)
13-09-19 Sown seeds in a tray and germinated at 08-10-19, result: 2 units in Serre4.
Protocol: Autumn SmokeDisk Surface Sowing mix+Sand 68-77°F Damp substrate+Light
06-04-21 Sown 25 seeds in a seed plate F, they did not geminate in Serre6.
Protocol: Spring SmokeDisk Surface Sowing mix+Sand 64-72°F Damp substrate+Light
. . . 2019B Production of 2 plants in our nursery (Formerly of wild origin)
06-08-20 2x Dead plant because of watering problem: Serre7 F2.