Cymbopogon refractus, commonly known as barbed wire grass,[1] is a species of perennial grass in the genus Cymbopogon of the family Poaceae. It is native to Australia.
Cymbopogon refractus is a tufted perennial bunchgrass, without stolons or rhizomes. The culms, or stems of the grass are to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in height and branching at the nodes. The nodes are purplish and hairless.[2]
The leaves of the plant are basal and on the stems.[2] The leaf is hairless and when crushed gives off a lemon-ginger scent[3] like other grasses in the genus Cymbopogon.
The inflorescence of the plant, or the collections of flowers, are arranged on a 10–45 cm (3.9–17.7 in) long stem with clusters of short, nearly hairless branches which bend downwards when mature, giving the inflorescence a barbed-wire appearance. The spikelets are paired, one stalked the other unstalked. [3] Flowering mostly spring to autumn.[1]
Cymbopogon refractus was first described by R. Brown in 1810 as Andropogon refractus,[4] but in 1921 was placed in the genus Cymbopogon by Camus.[5][4]
Cymbopogon refractus is widespread on poor soils of roadsides, native pastures, woodlands and forests[3] of Queensland, New South Wales, the Northern Territory, and Victoria.[1] C. refractus is very drought tolerant but readily frosted.[3]
Cymbopogon refractus, commonly known as barbed wire grass, is a species of perennial grass in the genus Cymbopogon of the family Poaceae. It is native to Australia.
