Cortaderia Explained
Cortaderia is a genus of South American and Central American plants in the Poaceae grass family.[1] [2]
Etymology
The common name pampas grass, though strictly referring to C. selloana, is frequently applied to all species in the genus (and sometimes also to species of Erianthus and Saccharum ravennae). The name of the genus is derived from the Argentine Spanish word cortadera, which in turn refers to the sharp serrations on the leaves.[3] Cortaderia jubata and C. rudiuscula produce copious seed asexually.
Description
The species of Cortaderia are imposing tall grasses growing 1.5–3 m tall, with graceful white inflorescence plumes. They are in widespread use as ornamental plants.
- Species
- Cortaderia araucana Stapf - Chile, Argentina
- Cortaderia atacamensis (Phil.) Pilg. - Chile, Argentina, Bolivia
- Cortaderia bifida Pilg. - Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
- Cortaderia boliviensis M.Lyle - Bolivia
- Cortaderia columbiana (Pilg.) Pilg. - Venezuela, Colombia
- Cortaderia hapalotricha (Pilg.) Conert - Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
- Cortaderia hieronymi (Kuntze) N.P.Barker & H.P.Linder - Bolivia, Peru, Argentina
- Cortaderia jubata (Lemoine ex Carrière) Stapf - Andean pampas grass - Andes of Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina; naturalized in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Oregon, California, Hawaii
- Cortaderia modesta (Döll) Hack. ex Dusén - southern Brazil
- Cortaderia nitida (Kunth) Pilg. - Costa Rica, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru
- Cortaderia peruviana (Hitchc.) N.P.Barker & H.P.Linder - Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia
- Cortaderia pilosa (d'Urv.) Hack. - Chile, Argentina, Falkland Islands
- Cortaderia planifolia Swallen - Colombia, Peru
- Cortaderia pungens Swallen - Colombia, Peru, Venezuela
- Cortaderia roraimensis (N.E.Br.) Pilg. - Guyana, Venezuela, Colombia, northwestern Brazil
- Cortaderia rudiuscula Stapf - Andes of Chile, Argentina, Peru, Bolivia
- Cortaderia selloana (Schult. & Schult.f.) Asch. & Graebn. - pampas grass - Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia; naturalized in parts of northern South America, Mesoamerica, West Indies, southern USA, Australia, New Zealand, Mediterranean Basin, etc.
- Cortaderia sericantha (Steud.) Hitchc. - Colombia, Peru
- Cortaderia speciosa (Nees) Stapf - Chile, Argentina, Bolivia
- Cortaderia vaginata Swallen - southern Brazil
- formerly includedsee Austroderia Chionochloa Chusquea Phragmites
Notes and References
- Connor HE . Breeding Systems in Cortaderia (Gramineae) . Evolution . 1973 . 27 . 663–678 . 10.2307/2407199 . 4 . 2407199. 28563530 .
- Connor HE . Names and Types in Cortaderia Stapf (Gramineae) II . Taxon . 1983 . 32 . 633–634 . 10.2307/1221742 . 4 . 1221742.
- Book: Quattrocchi, Umberto . CRC World Dictionary of Grasses . II E-O . 978-0-8493-1303-5 . 2006 . CRC Press . 522.
