Triodia scintillans

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Triodia scintillans
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Genus: Triodia
Species group: Triodia basedowii species complex
Species:
T. scintillans
Binomial name
Triodia scintillans
Distribution of taxa in the Triodia basedowii complex, with a superimposed phylogenetic tree. T. scintillans is in purple and labeled "S".

Triodia scintillans, the sparkling spinifex, or salt and vinegar chips spinifex

salt and vinegar potato chips.[1][3]

Names

The

specific epithet scintillans was chosen with help from Alex George and derives from the Latin word scintillo which means "to sparkle".[1] This refers to the distinct sparkly droplets on young leaves which is especially apparent in direct sun.[1] The common name "sparkling spinifex" is a calque of that Latin binomial.[2] Although this plant is not in the genus Spinifex, members of the genus Triodia are commonly called "spinifex".[4] T. vanleeuwenii is also called sparking spinifex.[5]

Triodia scintillans is referred to as salt and vinegar chips spinifex because the little leaf droplets have a similar taste to the chips.[3][2] The plant was not tasted intentionally, and eating it is not recommended.[2]

The species was informally called "Triodia sp. Warrawagine" initially, referencing a cattle station in the region.[6][1][7]

Taxonomy

Triodia scintillans is in the T. basedowii species complex along with eight other species, T. basedowii, T. birriliburu, T. chichesterensis, T. glabra, T. lanigera, T. mallota, T. nana, and T. vanleeuwenii.[8][9] Within the complex, it is in an informal clade called the eastern group, along with T. basedowii, T. birriliburu, T. nana, and T. vanleeuwenii.[10][8] Analysis of internal transcribed spacer[9] and external transcribed spacer[10] sequences show a close relative of T. scintillans is T. vanleeuwenii,[10] which shares the leaf droplets.[1] The two species possibly hybridize where the ranges overlap near Roy Hill Station.[1] A more recent study on chloroplast DNA indicated that the closest relative of T. scinitillans is T. basedowii instead of T. vanleeuwenii.[11]

Distribution

Triodia scintillans is

Woodie Woodie Road, 19 kilometers south of the turn-off to Telfer.[1]

The plant grows on slopes and plains, on primarily gravelly soils.[1][8]

The conservation status for the species has been described as "least concern"[1] and "not threatened".[7]

Description

Individual plants grow in 20–50 cm tall hummocks.[1]

The

glabrous with scintillating droplets, which tend to become crystalline when dried.[1] The purpose of the droplets is unknown, but possibly to deter herbivores.[5]

The sheath opening is

leaf blades are short for the genus, typically 40–100 mm long.[1] They are glabrous or rarely with a few trichomes spreading onto the 1–3 mm long pseudopetiole.[1]

Flowers appear on 0.7–1 m tall

anthers in the flower are 2.2–3.5 mm long.[1] The caryopsis (seed) is unseen.[1]

Triodia scintillans is

plastome is 135,301 bp, and its GC-content is 38.4%.[11]

Ecology

Nothing is known to eat the grass, and cows refuse to graze on it.[5]

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.1071/SB17011
    .
  2. ^ a b c d Morrison, Lisa (13 November 2017). "'Salt and vinegar chips' spinifex one of eight new plant species discovered by finger-licking scientists". ABC News. Archived from the original on 4 September 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  3. ^ a b Dean, Signe (14 November 2017). "Scientists Have Discovered a Grass That Tastes Like Salt And Vinegar Chips". ScienceAlert. Archived from the original on 18 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2019.
  4. ISSN 1446-5701. Archived
    from the original on 16 December 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2023. Spinifex, the long-established popular name for species of Triodia and Plectrachne, sometimes confused with the maritime genus, Spinifex L., comprises Australian endemics that are as characteristically Australian as Eucalyptus and Acacia
  5. ^ a b c Chen, Angus (8 December 2017). "Scientists Discover Grass Species With Intriguing 'Salt And Vinegar' Chip Flavor". NPR. Archived from the original on 7 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  6. ^ "Occurrence record: PERTH 5634490". The Australasian Virtual Herbarium. Atlas of Living Australia. Archived from the original on 11 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  7. ^ a b c "Triodia scintillans B.M.Anderson & M.D.Barrett". Florabase—the Western Australian Flora. Western Australian Herbarium. Archived from the original on 5 September 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2023. Distribution IBRA Regions Great Sandy Desert, Pilbara. IBRA Subregions Chichester, Fortescue, Mackay.
  8. ^
    PMID 31037212. Archived
    from the original on 7 September 2023. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  9. ^
    PMID 27179699. Archived
    from the original on 6 September 2023. Retrieved 6 September 2023. The T. basedowii species complex comprises T. basedowii and T. lanigera along with four informally named taxa (Western Australian Herbarium, 1998): T. sp. Shovelanna Hill (S. van Leeuwen 3835), T. sp. Little Sandy Desert (S. van Leeuwen 4935), T. sp. Peedamulla (A.A. Mitchell PRP1636) and T. sp. Warrawagine (A.L. Payne PRP 1859).... T. sp. Warrawagine is morphologically similar to T. sp. Shovelanna Hill, but has a branched inflorescence with a greater number of spikelets.
  10. ^
    PMID 28135342
    .
  11. ^
    PMID 33841465
    .
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