Astrebla is a small genus of xerophytic (adapted to survive in an environment with little liquid water) grasses found only in Australia. They are the dominant grass across much of the continent.Atlas of Living Australia, Astrebla F.Muell. ex Benth., Mitchell Grass They are commonly known as Mitchell grass after Scottish explorer Thomas Mitchell (1792-1855), who first collected a specimen near Bourke in New South Wales.
Mitchell grasses grow on clay soils, mainly between an upper limit of and a lower limit of average annual rainfall, and at even lower rainfall in depressions where the water concentrates following rains, for example in Sturt's Stony Desert. Mitchell grasses are deep-rooted and become dormant during drought, allowing them to survive extended periods without rainfall.FutureBeef Program for Northern Australia
They are commonly found clumped together and reaching one metre high, providing habitat for organisms such as mammals.
SpeciesKew World Checklist of Selected Plant FamiliesThe Plant List search for Astrebla +Scientific nameCommon nameCharacteristicsAstrebla elymoideshoop Mitchell grassthe second most common speciesAstrebla lappaceacurly Mitchell grassthe most common speciesAstrebla pectinatabarley Mitchell grassthe most drought-tolerant speciesAstrebla squarrosabull Mitchell grassthe most flood-tolerant species
See also List of Poaceae genera
References