Stylidium graminifolium
grass triggerplant at Canberra Central, ACT
Identify this sighting
| Stylidium graminifolium | 7 Jan 2016 | RWPurdie | ||
| Stylidium armeria subsp. armeria | 28 Oct 2015 | BettyDonWood | ||
| Stylidium graminifolium | 25 Oct 2015 | JasonC |
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2 comments
29 Oct 2015
I quote from the key to Stylidium species related to Stylidium graminifolium. S. graminifolium: leaves strictly narrowly linear to 2.5 mm wide, glaucous (with a waxy bloom), edges irregularly serrate (saw-toothed), flowers white to pale pink. In siliceous sands and well drained soils. S. armeria: Leaves greater than 3 mm wide, serrated at the apex only, 20-40 mm long, dark green, scape (flower stalk) robust, more than 2 mm wide, glandular hairy. Flowers dark pink to deep magenta. Widespread.
8 Jan 2016
I've just checked two papers relevant to Stylidium graminifolium and S. armeria: Raulings & Ladiges (2001) Australian Systematic Botany 14, 901-935, and Jackson & Wiltshire (2001) Australian Systematic Botany 14, 937-969. Both provided keys and descriptions for the two species (though Jackson & Wiltshire note they only examined Tasmanian herbarium specimens for S. graminifolium. It’s unclear how many specimens Raulings & Ladiges looked at, but they don’t cite any ACT specimens for S. graminifolium, and only one ACT specimen (from Mt Franklin) for S. armeria [all the other S. armeria specimens cited in their paper under the ACT are actually from NSW].
I’ve checked all the ACT specimens in ANH for both species against the keys and descriptions in the above two papers; the specimens include many from Black Mountain. Based on the herbarium specimens and relating it to my field knowledge of the genus on Black Mountain, I don’t believe S. armeria occurs on Black Mountain, Bruce Ridge or Mt Ainslie. The main obvious differences between the two species are the leaves: S. graminifolium leaves are linear, up to 3 mm wide, and the mid rib is clearly visible on the lower surface. S. armeria leaves are narrowly oblanceolate (ie broader in the upper half), usually 4 mm or more wide (rarely c. 3 mm) and the midrib is not obvious on the lower surface. These characters are difficult to tell from photos but are readily apparent in herbarium specimens (and fresh specimens).
I’ve checked all the ACT specimens in ANH for both species against the keys and descriptions in the above two papers; the specimens include many from Black Mountain. Based on the herbarium specimens and relating it to my field knowledge of the genus on Black Mountain, I don’t believe S. armeria occurs on Black Mountain, Bruce Ridge or Mt Ainslie. The main obvious differences between the two species are the leaves: S. graminifolium leaves are linear, up to 3 mm wide, and the mid rib is clearly visible on the lower surface. S. armeria leaves are narrowly oblanceolate (ie broader in the upper half), usually 4 mm or more wide (rarely c. 3 mm) and the midrib is not obvious on the lower surface. These characters are difficult to tell from photos but are readily apparent in herbarium specimens (and fresh specimens).
Location information
- Coordinates 149.089300-35.275590
- Maps Black Mountain
- Places Canberra Central, ACT
Sighting information
- 4 - 15 Abundance
- 25 Oct 2015 09:29 PM Recorded on
- JasonC Recorded by
Collections
- Stylidium graminifolium sl–ss, S. armeria, S. montanum, S. productum ... studies and IDs JasonC Canberra & Southern Tablelands NatureMapr Stylidium graminifolium Other Wildflowers & Herbs Plants
Species information
- Stylidium graminifolium Scientific name
- grass triggerplant Common name
- Not Sensitive
- Local native
- Non-invasive or negligible
- Up to 1434.7m Recorded at altitude
Seasonal activity
-
Was the plant in flower?
JFMAMJJASOND
Record quality
Quality score
4 / 7
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