Poa gunnii facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Poa gunnii |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Clade: | Commelinids |
| Order: | Poales |
| Family: | Poaceae |
| Subfamily: | Pooideae |
| Genus: | Poa |
| Species: |
P. gunnii
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| Binomial name | |
| Poa gunnii Vickery
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Poa gunnii is a type of grass that grows in clumps, found only on the island of Tasmania. It's one of the most common grasses you'll see in high mountain areas, usually between 800 and 1400 meters above sea level. But sometimes, you can even find it closer to the ocean in the cooler southern parts of Tasmania.
This grass belongs to a group called Poa, which is part of the big grass family, Poaceae. Tasmania is home to many different Poa grasses – 16 types that are native (meaning they naturally grow there) and 6 types that were brought in from other places.
What Does Poa gunnii Look Like?
Poa gunnii is a very interesting plant because it can look quite different depending on where it grows.
- High in the Mountains: If you find Poa gunnii high up in the mountains, it usually looks short and bushy, growing up to about 20 centimeters (about 8 inches) tall.
- Closer to the Sea: When it grows closer to sea level, especially in cooler areas, it can be much taller, reaching up to 70 centimeters (about 27 inches) high. Its leaves are also longer in these areas.
The leaves of Poa gunnii are usually less than 1 millimeter wide. They are tough and often look round when you cut across them. These leaves can be up to 30 centimeters long and are often curled or folded. The plant also has small, firm parts called ligules, which are tiny hairs found where the leaf blade meets the stem.
When Poa gunnii flowers, it produces small clusters of flowers called spikelets. These can be green or purplish and often have 2 to 6 flowers in each cluster. Sometimes, these spikelets can even grow tiny new plants directly on them instead of just seeds!
Where Did the Name Poa gunnii Come From?
The name Poa gunnii (pronounced GUNN-ee-eye) honors a very important plant collector from Tasmania named Ronald Campbell Gunn (1808–1881). He was a famous person who collected many different plants. In 1841, he collected the first sample of this grass from the top of Mount Wellington (also known as Kunanyi). That sample helped scientists officially name and describe the plant.
