Themeda triandra
Themeda triandra | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Clade: | Commelinids |
Order: | Poales |
Family: | Poaceae |
Subfamily: | Panicoideae |
Genus: | Themeda |
Species: | T. triandra
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Binomial name | |
Themeda triandra Forssk.[1] | |
Synonyms[1] | |
List
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Themeda triandra is a species of
The plant has traditional uses as food and medicine in Africa and Australia.
Description
Themeda triandra is a grass which grows in dense tufts up to 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) tall and 0.5 metres (1 ft 8 in) wide. It flowers in summer, producing large red-brown
Its leaves are a grey-green colour in winter, turning red-brown in summer. The blooms exude a strong perfume.[5]
Taxonomy and naming
Themeda triandra was first formally described in 1775 by Peter Forsskål who published the description in Flora Aegyptiaco-Arabica.[6] There are many synonyms of this species.[7] The specific epithet (triandra) is the feminine of the Botanical Latin adjective triandrus, meaning "with three stamens",[8] based on the Greek-derived combining forms tri-, three, and -andrus, male.[9]
Kangaroo grass was formerly thought to be one of two species, and was named Themeda australis.[5]
Distribution and habitat
Themeda triandra is found across Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Pacific. In Australia, it is found in all of the states and territories.[3] It grows predominantly in grassland and open woodland communities. It is a significant species in temperate grasslands in Australia, a habitat considered to be endangered or threatened in various parts of the country.[3] It does not do well under heavy grazing pressure, but benefits from occasional fire.[10]
It tolerates a wide range of soils but is most common in moist microclimates such as roadsides and railway lines.[11]
T. triandra occurs on a wide variety of soils from sandy soils to heavy clays. There seems to be little association between abundance of T. triandra and a specific soil type. It is often common in areas where moisture collects and grazing is light, such as along roadsides or railway lines.
Morphology
Kangaroo grass is a tufted perennial up to 1.5m tall, with tussock width up to 0.5m. The narrow leaves grow up to 0.5m long, and are green in summer changing to straw coloured in winter. The seed head is large, often red-brown and made up of clustered spikelets.[12]
Uses
The young growth is palatable to livestock.[13][14] It serves as a food source for several avian species, including the long-tailed widowbird, and is occasionally used as an ornamental plant.[3]
Traditionally, in
In Australia, it is sometimes used as an
Before the
However, in recent years kangaroo grass has been looked upon as a weed which is sometimes eaten by livestock. As of 2021[update], a four-year research project
- It can survive on land depleted by farming.
- It is very drought-resistant.
- It tolerates extreme changes in temperature.
- It is a perennial grass.
- It can help to restore already degraded grasslands.
- It contains 40 per cent more protein than traditional grains used for making bread.
- Because of the way it grows, forming a very dense tussock with its leaves bending outwards, it protects the soil and creates its own little ecosystem – it conserves moisture, creating habitat for small animals such as native insects and invertebrates.[19]
However, at present the commercial viability of kangaroo grass is limited by low seed yields and poor knowledge of broadacre crop management.[20]
The project will draw heavily on the knowledge of the
The project follows a smaller,
In 2020 Pascoe established the not-for-profit Aboriginal social enterprise Black Duck Foods in Mallacoota, Victoria. Black Duck Foods conducts research into native foods and is currently working on a roadmap for the native grains industry. They have small quantities of kangaroo and spear grass flour for sale on their website.[22]
The University of Sydney has undertaken research into the nutritional value of kangaroo grass, finding that it is high in protein and minerals.[23]
References
- ^ a b "Themeda triandra". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 2 July 2019.
- ^ "Themeda triandra - Plant Profiles - Queensland Native Seeds". qldnativeseeds.com.au. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d e Liles, Jennifer. "Themeda triandra". Australian National Botanic Garden. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ^ a b W.D. Clayton; M. Vorontsova; K.T. Harman; H. Williamson. "Themeda triandra". The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens. Kew: GrassBase. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
- ^ a b c d e Fieldhouse, Rachel (28 September 2018). "Feature Plant Friday - Kangaroo Wheat Grass". PlantingSeeds. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
- ^ "Themeda triandra". APNI. Retrieved 4 November 2017.
- ^ "Themeda triandra". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
- ISBN 978-0-7153-1643-6. p. 516.
- ^ Stearn (2004), p. 368.
- ^ "Themeda triandra (Kangaroo grass)". New South Wales Government Department of Primary Industries. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
- ^ "Themeda triandra (Kangaroo grass)". www.dpi.nsw.gov.au. 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ "Themeda triandra (Kangaroo grass)". www.dpi.nsw.gov.au. 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ Burbidge, N. T. Australian Grasses. Angus and Robertson Publishers. 1966.
- ^ "Animal Feed Resources Information System". FAO.org.
- ^ "Wild Grains". The National Academies of Sciences Engineering Medicine. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ "Feature Plant Friday - Kangaroo Wheat Grass". Planting Seeds. Retrieved 12 June 2021.
- ^ a b Lawrence, Sarah (8 February 2021). "Could native crop, kangaroo grass, become a regular ingredient in bread and help farmers regenerate land?". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
- ^ a b Wheeler, Mike (19 December 2019). "Kangaroo Grass – is it the super crop for animal feed?". Food & Beverage Industry News. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
- .
- ISSN 2331-1932.
- ^ Fitzgerald, Bridget (9 January 2017). "Project to harvest and mill kangaroo grass aims to encourage farmers to adopt native Australian crops". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
- ^ "Home | Black Duck Foods". www.blackduckfoods.com.au. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ Institute of Agriculture, the University of Sydney (September 2020). "Native grains from paddock to plate: study of the economic, environmental and social sustainability of an ancient system in a modern context" (PDF). The University of Sydney. Retrieved 15 May 2023.