Dark Wire Grass

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©Harry Rose via flickr CC2.5

Aristida calycina

Slender tufted perennial grass to 60 cm with inrolled leaves to 20 cm and 1 mm wide when flattened out.

Details
Flora Type
Grasses
Distinctive Features

Characteristic three-branched awn on seeds.
Biology

Perennial. Found on drier soils. Relatively unpalatable to stock. C4 grass (biochemical system that is part of photosynthesis) which favours the species in hotter environments.
Native Status
Native
Flowering Time

Oct-Feb
Taxonomy
Phylum
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)
Class
Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants)
Order
Poales
Family
Poaceae
Genus
Aristida
Species
calycina

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

Aristida is a virtually cosmopolitan genus characteristic of semi-arid regions of the world. Avoided by livestock so abundance can indicate overgrazing.

Interesting Facts
Native Status
Native