Research note: Responses of the perennial Australian native grass Eriachne benthamii to flooding

摘要

The perennial grass Eriachne benthamii (Hartley swamp wanderrie) (Poaceae) is native to central Australia. The present laboratory study demonstrates that the ability of this species to survive in seasonally wet grasslands is already present at an early seedling stage. While flooding of seedlings for 1-4 weeks at ages of 4-9 weeks reduced shoot weight, height, number of leaves and leaf area, plants survived and grew well. Research is required on the morphological and/or physiological mechanisms, whichlead to the observed tolerance to flooding in E. benthamii. Since it can tolerate prolonged flooding, E. benthamii may be a useful species for the rehabilitation of disturbed and degraded rangeland areas, which are prone to periodic flooding.