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Image not available.
Scientific Name
Poa gunnii
Family Name
POACEAE (GRAMINEAE)
Common Name
Gunn's Snowgrass
Status
Height
6-70cm
Flowers
Flowerhead 1.5-8cm long, bearing green or purplish spikelets.
Fruit
Grains
Form
Very variable, smooth, tufted perennial grass, with inrolled or folded leaves up to 30cm long, and smooth, slender stems.
Municipalities
Break O'Day; Central Coast; Central Highlands; Circular Head; Derwent Valley; Dorset; Glamorgan-Spring Bay; Glenorchy; Hobart; Huon Valley; Kentish; Latrobe; Launceston; Meander Valley; Northern Midlands; Waratah-Wynyard; West Coast
Communities
Habitat Notes
Tasmanian endemic. Common in subalpine habitats from 800-1400m altitude, but extending to near sea level in the south of the State.
Site Tolerance
Frost Tolerance
Soil Tolerance
General Notes
Propagates easily from seed, or by division of large plants. Cut back in autumn to promote new growth. Attracts seed-eating birds and provides cover for small lizards. An important habitat and foodplant for the vulnerable and endemic Ptunarra Brown Butterfly (Oreixenica ptunarra) in the Central Highlands. The female butterflies drop their eggs as they fly over the tussocks; after these hatch, the small caterpillars over-winter and begin feeding on the tips of the tussock in spring. Suitable below powerlines.
Propagation Details
Propagation Calendar
Flowering Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Seed Collecting Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Sowing Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Cutting Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Seed Information
Seed Collection
Small, in tall, finely branched seedheads. As seed matures, seedheads change from green to light brown. Seed is released within 3-14 days of seed maturity. When the seed is ripe, it will fall when the seedheads are rubbed between your fingers. Cut stalks with secateurs to collect.
Seed Treatment Method
Seed Storage Life
Viable Seeds Per Gram
Seed Treatment Notes
Germination Time
Suitable for Direct Seeding
Yes
Cuttings
Expected Time to Take Root
Expected Time to Plant Out
Propagation by Division
N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.
Yes
Cutting Notes
Copyright 2000-2009, Understorey Network Incorporated. Updated 2024-11-11
Database development and website design by
Andrew Smith