Echinopogon ovatus
| Echinopogon ovatus | |
|---|---|
| A stalk of Echinopogon ovatus | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Subfamily: | Pooideae |
| Genus: | Echinopogon |
| Species: | E. ovatus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Echinopogon ovatus (G.Forst.) P.Beauv.
| |
Echinopogon ovatus, or hedgehog grass, is a species of grass.[2] It is indigenous to Australia and New Zealand.[3] It has bluish-green tufts which grow up to around 140 cm (55 in).[4]
Description
Echinopogon ovatus is a lax, tufted grass up to 140 cm (55 in) tall. The culm is upright-decumbent, baring an ovate panicle made up of 20–30 green spikelets with finely scabrid awns.[3]
Echinopogon ovatus could be confused with Cynosurus echinatus, from which it can be distinguished by the lack of clustered spikelets.[5][6]
Distribution
Echinopogon ovatus is indigenous to both Australia and New Zealand.[3]
In New Zealand it is found throughout both main islands, although is rarer in the western parts of the South Island. It is also found on the Three Kings Islands and Chatham Islands.[3]
Habitat
Echinopogon ovatus is found from sea level to montane. It is found in forest or scrub, as well as on dry banks and waste places.[3]
Threats
Echinopogon ovatus is classified as At Risk - Declining, partly due to the spread of invasive grasses Cortaderia jubata, C. selloana, and Sporobolus africanus.[7]
References
- ^ "NZTCS". nztcs.org.nz. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ "Echinopogon ovatus". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "Echinopogon ovatus (G.Forst.) P.Beauv. - Flora of New Zealand Series". Flora of New Zealand Series. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ "Echinopogon ovatus (G.Forst.) P.Beauv. - Biota of NZ". Biota of NZ. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
- ^ "Cynosurus echinatus". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
- ^ "Echinopogon ovatus". New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
- ^ De Lange, Peter James; Gosden, Jane; Shannel P. Courtney; Fergus, Alexander J.; Barkla, John; Beadel, Sarah M.; Champion, Paul D.; Hindmarsh-Walls, Rowan; Makan, Troy; Michel, Pascale (2024). Conservation status of vascular plants in Aotearoa New Zealand, 2023 (Report). New Zealand Threat Classification Series. Vol. 43. doi:10.13140/RG.2.2.11940.49288.