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''Poa gunnii'' is a Tasmanian endemic tussock grass considered one of the most abundant and common in alpine and subalpine environments from about 800 m to above 1400 m. However it can be found to near sea level in the south of the island state where a cooler climate is prevalent. The genus ''
''Poa gunnii'' is a very variable species. The most common subalpine and alpine form is stunted but grows up to 20 cm high while forms of ''P. gunnii'' at lower altitudes towards sea level are usually taller to 70 cm high and with longer leaves. Leaf sheaths, green or purplish; leaves less than 1mm in diameter, hard, usually round in cross-section. Blades up to 30 cm long, inrolled or folded. Ligules up to 2mm long, firm with tiny hairs on their margins and backs. Flowering spikelets are broadly ovate to lanceolate, 2–6 flowered, green or purplish, often viviparous. ''P. constantina'' and ''P. fawcettiae'' can be identified from ''P. gunnii'' due to the features of the lemma and the prickliness of the leaves.
''Poa gunnii'' is a Tasmanian endemic tussock grass considered one of the most abundant and common in alpine and subalpine environments from about 800 m to above 1400 m. However it can be found to near sea level in the south of the island state where a cooler climate is prevalent. The genus ''Poa
''Poa'' is a genus of about 570 species of grasses, native to the temperate regions of both hemispheres. Common names include meadow-grass (mainly in Europe and Asia), bluegrass (mainly in North America), tussock (some New Zealand species), a ...
'' belongs to the family Poaceae
Poaceae () or Gramineae () is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos and the grasses of natural grassland and species cultivated in lawns an ...
. Tasmania has 16 native and 6 introduced species of ''Poa''.
Description
''Poa gunnii'' is a very variable species. The most common subalpine and alpine form is stunted but grows up to 20 cm high while forms of ''P. gunnii'' at lower altitudes towards sea level are usually taller to 70 cm high and with longer leaves. Leaf sheaths, green or purplish; leaves less than 1mm in diameter, hard, usually round in cross-section. Blades up to 30 cm long, inrolled or folded. Ligules up to 2mm long, firm with tiny hairs on their margins and backs. Flowering spikelets are broadly ovate to lanceolate, 2–6 flowered, green or purplish, often viviparous. ''P. constantina'' and ''P. fawcettiae'' can be identified from ''P. gunnii'' due to the features of the lemma and the prickliness of the leaves.
Etymology
''P. gunnii'' (GUNN-ee-i) after prominent Tasmanian plant collectorRonald Campbell Gunn
Ronald Campbell Gunn, Fellow of the Royal Society, FRS, (4 April 1808 – 13 March 1881) was a South African-born Australian Botany, botanist and politician.
Early life
Gunn was born at Cape Town, Cape Colony, (now South Africa), the son of W ...
(1808–1881) who collected the type specimen from "summit of Mt. Wellington (Kunanyi)" in 1841.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q15514798 gunnii Endemic flora of Tasmania