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Astrebla squarrosa - C.E.Hubb

Common Name Bull Mitchell grass
Family Poaceae
USDA hardiness 4-12
Known Hazards None Known
Habitats Heavy, cracking clays on plains and river flats, sometimes with Lysiphyllum or Excoecaria, or in Dicanthium-Eulalia grassland and cleared Brigalow areas; flowers after rain.
Range Australasia.
Edibility Rating    (4 of 5)
Other Uses    (1 of 5)
Weed Potential No
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Astrebla squarrosa Bull Mitchell grass


Chris Gardiner lucidcentral.org
Astrebla squarrosa Bull Mitchell grass
Chris Gardiner lucidcentral.org

 

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Summary

Erect, shortly rhizomatous perennial, to 1.5 m high. Astrebla is a small genus of xerophytic (requiring little liquid water) grasses found only in Australia. They are the dominant grass across much of the continent distributed in Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales. Sometimes misspelt as Astrebla aquamosa


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Astrebla squarrosa is a PERENNIAL growing to 1.5 m (5ft) by 0.1 m (0ft 4in) at a fast rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay and nutritionally poor soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

No synonyms are recorded for this name.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Seed
Edible Uses:

Carbon Farming Solutions - Staple Crop: balanced carb (The term staple crop typically refers to a food that is eaten routinely and accounts for a dominant part of people's diets in a particular region of the world) [1-1]. Cultivated in the past but largely or completely abandoned.

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.


None Known

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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FOOD FOREST PLANTS

Other Uses

Providing habitat for organisms such as mammals. Bull Mitchell grass is less palatable to livestock than other Mitchell grasses. It can withstand grazing and drought and produces an abundance of fodder.

Special Uses

Carbon Farming

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Historic Crop  Management: Standard  Staple Crop: Balanced carb

Climate: subtropical to tropical. Humidity: semi-arid. Grow on clay soils, mainly between an upper limit of 600 mm average annual rainfall, and a lower limit of 200 mm, and even below in depressions where the water concentrates following rains e.g. in Sturt's Stony Desert. Often seen growing to 1.5 metres tall on floodplains and heavy dark clay soils in arid to semi-arid Australia. The coarse stems and difficult digestibility make this a less desirable Mitchell grass for livestock. Mitchell grasses are deep-rooted and become dormant during drought, allowing them to survive extended periods without rainfall. Carbon Farming Solutions - Cultivation: historic crop. Cultivated in the past but largely or completely abandoned. Management: standard (Describes the non-destructive management systems used in cultivation) [1-1].

Carbon Farming

  • Historic Crop  These crops were once cultivated but have been abandoned. The reasons for abandonment may include colonization, genocide, market pressures, the arrival of superior crops from elsewhere, and so forth.
  • Management: Standard  Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
  • Staple Crop: Balanced carb  (0-15 percent protein, 0-15 percent oil, with at least one over 5 percent). The carbohydrates are from either starch or sugar. Annuals include maize, wheat, rice, and potato. Perennials include chestnuts, carob, perennial fruits, nuts, cereals, pseudocereals, woody pods, and acorns.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Propagation

Wild. Seed.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Bull Mitchell grass, Mitchell grass

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Native to Australia: New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, Northern Territory

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

None Known

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
Astrebla pectinataBarley Mitchell GrassPerennial1.0 -  LMHSNM10 

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Author

C.E.Hubb

Botanical References

Links / References

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Subject : Astrebla squarrosa  
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