Biology:Spinifex (coastal grass)
| Spinifex | |
|---|---|
| |
| Spinifex longifolius Grant Marine Park Cottesloe, Western Australia. | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Subfamily: | Panicoideae |
| Subtribe: | Cenchrinae |
| Genus: | Spinifex L. |
| Type species | |
| Spinifex squarrosus (syn of S. littoreus)[1] | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Spinifex is a genus of perennial coastal plants in the grass family.[2][3][4][5]
They are one of the most common plants that grow in sand dunes along the coasts of Africa, Middle East, Asia, Australia , New Zealand, and New Caledonia, with the ranges of some species extending north and west along the coasts of Asia as far as India and Japan .[6] As they help stabilise the sand, these grasses are an important part of the entire sand dune ecosystem. The single species indigenous to New Zealand, Spinifex sericeus,[7] is also found in Australia .[8]
Confusingly, the word "spinifex" is also used as a common name referring to grasses in the related genus Triodia. Triodia however is native to inland Australia and refers to a group of spiny-leaved, tussock-forming grasses.
Species
- Spinifex × alterniflorus Nees – Western Australia
- Spinifex hirsutus Labill. – all 6 states of Australia
- Spinifex littoreus (Burm.f.) Merr. – Ashmore Reef in Western Australia; New Guinea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines , Indochina, Indian subcontinent, China (Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan), Taiwan, Japan including Ryukyu Islands
- Spinifex longifolius R.Br. – Thailand, Indonesia, New Guinea, Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia, South Australia
- Spinifex sericeus R.Br. – all 6 states of Australia plus Norfolk Island, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Tonga
Formerly included
Species formerly included:[1]
- Spinifex paradoxus (now Zygochloa paradoxa)
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
- ↑ Linnaeus, Carl von. 1771. Mantissa Plantarum 163, 300
- ↑ Tropicos, Spinifex L.
- ↑ Flora of China Vol. 22 Page 553 鬣刺属 lie ci shu Spinifex Linnaeus, Mant. Pl. 2: 163, 300. 1771.
- ↑ "Atlas of Living Australia Spinifex L.". http://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid:biodiversity.org.au:apni.taxon:414869.
- ↑ "Sand spinifex grass (Spinifex sericeus)". Descriptions of Major Dune Plants. Beach Protection Authority, Queensland. https://www.epa.qld.gov.au/register/p00278aa.pdf.
- ↑ Mark, Alan F. (1 March 2009). "Grasslands - Spinifex". Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/grasslands/1/2/3. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
- ↑ Webb, C.J.; Sykes, W.R.; Garnock-Jones, P.J. (1988). Flora of New Zealand Volume IV. Botany Division, Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. http://floraseries.landcareresearch.co.nz/pages/Taxon.aspx?id=_d1a88a5f-8368-43a8-b307-f5b45cf73061&fileName=Flora%205.xml.
- ↑ The Plant List search for Spinifex
Wikidata ☰ Q138801 entry
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