Austrodanthonia caespitosa
Encyclopedia
Austrodanthonia caespitosa, known by various common names including Common Wallaby-grass, Ringed Wallaby-grass, and White-top, is a species of grass native to southern parts of Australia
.
in Western Australia
by Charles Gaudichaud-Beaupré
, botanist to the expedition of Louis de Freycinet
. It was published by Gaudichaud-Beaupré in 1829 under the name Danthonia caespitosa. During the 1960s and 1970s it was transferred firstly into Notodanthonia and then into Rytidosperma
. In 1993 it was transferred into Austrodanthonia
by Hans Peter Linder, and there it remains.
. It is found in a many diverse habitats, and tolerates a range of soils, including sands, loams, granite, and laterite.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
.
Description
It is a tufted perennial grass that reaches up to 90 centimetres high. Flowers are purple or green, and occur in a panicle of from 10 to 30 spikelets, each of which contains from four to nine individual flowers.Taxonomy
It was first collected from Shark BayShark Bay
Shark Bay is a World Heritage listed bay in Western Australia. The term may also refer to:* the locality of Shark Bay, now known as Denham* Shark Bay Marine Park* Shark Bay , a shark exhibit at Sea World, Gold Coast, Australia* Shire of Shark Bay...
in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
by Charles Gaudichaud-Beaupré
Charles Gaudichaud-Beaupré
Charles Gaudichaud-Beaupré was a French botanist.He was born in Angoulême, the son of J-J. Gaudichaud and Rose Gaudichaud. He studied pharmacology at Cognac and Angoulême. He also studied chemistry and herbology.His greatest claim to fame was serving as botanist on a circumglobal expedition from...
, botanist to the expedition of Louis de Freycinet
Louis de Freycinet
Louis Claude de Saulces de Freycinet was a French navigator. He circumnavigated the earth, and was one of the first to produce a comprehensive map of the coastline of Australia.-Biography:...
. It was published by Gaudichaud-Beaupré in 1829 under the name Danthonia caespitosa. During the 1960s and 1970s it was transferred firstly into Notodanthonia and then into Rytidosperma
Rytidosperma
Rytidosperma is a genus of grass in the Poaceae family.-Species:* R. australe Clayton & Renvoize ex Connor* R. dimidiatum Connor & Edgar* R. exiguum H.P. Linder* R. fortunae-hibernae Connor & Edgar...
. In 1993 it was transferred into Austrodanthonia
Austrodanthonia
Austrodanthonia is a genus of 28 grass species found in Australia, New Guinea and New Zealand.Species include:*Austrodanthonia acerosa H.P.Linder*Austrodanthonia alpicola H.P.Linder – Crag Wallaby-grass...
by Hans Peter Linder, and there it remains.
Distribution and habitat
It occurs throughout the wetter, cooler parts of southern AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is found in a many diverse habitats, and tolerates a range of soils, including sands, loams, granite, and laterite.