An anatomo-ecological experiment in Austrostipa aristiglumis, a lowland Stipoid species

Abstract

Leaf and sheath anatomy characteristic of an aquatic or amphibious plant is reported for Austrostipa aristiglumis (Gramineae). Austrostipa and the rest of the Stipoid grasses are normally considered to be classic xeromorphs. The degree of development of the hydromorphic characteristics appears to be related to the level of soil saturation. The ecological and phylogenetic significance of these observations is discussed.

Systematic studies of Australian stipoid grasses (Austrostipa) based on micro-morphological and molecular characteristics

“…The treatment most widely accepted at present is to regard the Stipeae as a tribe of the subfamily Pooideae (Hsiao et al 1999;Jacobs et al 2000;GPWG 2000;Wheeler et al 2002). At present, the relationships within the stipoid grasses are poorly understood, with different data sets suggesting different relationships (Ariaga and Barkworth 2000;Cialdella and Giussani 2002;Connor and Edgar 2002;Maze et al 2002;Vasques and Barkworth 2004;Ariaga and Barkworth 2006;Ariaga and Jacobs 2006;Barkworth et al 2008). Understanding the relationships of these grasses allows more effective and efficient resource management (Garden et al 2000;Clarke 2003;Landberg et al 2003;de Lange et al 2004;Huxtable et al 2005).…”