Distichlis distichophylla (Labill.) Fassett., a new coastal record for a saltmarsh grass in New South Wales

Abstract

Several grasses are found in the saltmarsh and saltmarsh fringe vegetation in New South Wales. The most widespread and abundant in Sporobolus virginicus, (nomenclature follows Hnatiuk, 1990) which often forms monospecific swards in the north of the state (Adam, Wilson and Huntley, 1988). Other grasses commonly found in NSW saltmarshes include Agrostis avenacea, Agrostis billardieri, Cynodon dactylon, Paspalum vaginatum, Phragmites Australia, Polypogon monspeliensis, Parapholis incurve, Stipa stipoides and Zoysia macrantha. At higher latitudes S. virginicus is replaced by Distichlis disyichophylla, which is found on saltmarshes in South Australia, Victoria, Tasmania, and very rarely, in Western Australia. Until now it has not been collected from coastal New South Wales although there is a small population on a disturbed site at Lake Cargelligo in the central west which might represent an introduction (Adam and Smith-White, pers. Comm.). Curiously enough, Maiden (1897) reports “salt grass” Distichlis maritima Rafin. As occurring in “All the colonies except Western Australia and Queensland”. This distributional amount may come from Ferdinand von Mueller’s Australian plant census of 1882 which lists Distichlis maritima for NSW.