Skip to main content

Astrebla pectinata

(Lindley) Benth.

Mitchell grass, Barley mitchell grass

Poaceae Edible: Seeds, Cereal 74 iNaturalist observations
fodder

iNaturalist· cc-by

(c) Kym Nicolson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Kym Nicolson

iNaturalist· cc-by

(c) Kym Nicolson, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Kym Nicolson

iNaturalist· cc-by-nc

(c) Euan Moore, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Euan Moore

Astrebla pectinata, commonly known as barley Mitchell grass, is a herb of the family Poaceae from the order Poales.

Description

A dense tussocky grass. It keeps growing from year to year. It grows 20-100 cm high. There are short stout rhizomes. These have erect branched stems. The butts are often knotty. They can be covered with shining scales. The leaf sheaths are tight. The edges of the leaves are sharp and can become curly and twisted with age. The flowering stalk is 7-8 cm long.

Edible Uses

Seed. Other species in the genus can also be used.

Traditional Uses

The seeds are gathered and ground into flour and used for damper.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Medicinal Uses

None known

Distribution

It grows on dry cracking flood plains near rivers. It grows in tropical places.

Where It Grows

Australia*,

Cultivation

It is grown from seed.

Other Uses

None known Special Uses

Notes

There are 4 Astrebla species. They occur in Australia.

Also Known As

Ganalay

References (11)

  • Benth., Fl. austral. 7:602. 1878
  • Cribb, A.B. & J.W., 1976, Wild Food in Australia, Fontana. p 101
  • Davies, C. L., Waugh, D. L. & Lefroy, E. C., 2005, Perenial Grain Crops for High Water Use. The case of Microlaena stipoides. RIRDC Publication No. 05/024
  • Isaacs, J., 1987, Bush Food, Aboriginal Food and Herbal Medicine. Weldons. p 114
  • McKerney, M. & White, H., 2011, Bush Tucker, Boomerangs & Bandages. Border River-Gwyder Catchment Management Authority p 143
Show all 11 references
  • Morley, B.D., & Toelken, H.R., (Eds), 1983, Flowering Plants in Australia. Rigby. p 391
  • Paczkowska, G. & Chapman, A.R., 2000, The Western Australian Flora. A Descriptive Catalogue. Western Australian Herbarium. p 96
  • Petheram, R.J. and Kok, B., 2003, Plants of the Kimberley Region of Western Australia. UWA Press p 57
  • Steenbeeke, Greg as part of the Plants Directory project. List of plant species from northern NSW that may be used as food plants p 10
  • Wheeler, J.R.(ed.), 1992, Flora of the Kimberley Region. CALM, Western Australian Herbarium, p 1128
  • Williams, K.A.W., 1999, Native Plants of Queensland Volume 4. Keith A.W. Williams North Ipswich, Australia. p 66

More from Poaceae