Austrostipa acrociliata (Reader)
S.W.L.Jacobs & J.Everett. Telopea 6: 584 (1996).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Stipeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Stipa
acrociliata Reader, Victoria Naturalist 13: 167 (1897).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: F. Reader s.n., 1895, Australia:
Victoria: Sandy Desert, Lowan Shire (MEL-59867; IT: MEL-59869?, MEL-59868).
Key references
(books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (178 as Stipa), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass,
Grasses of Australia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses
of South Australia (69), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley &
D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales (151), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora
of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (22).
Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (69, Fig. 30), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs,
R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn
(151), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2
(31, Fig 4).
Derivation: Gk.
akros, at the tip; L. cilium, hair; -ata, possessing. Glume
apices hairy.
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present, short. Culms stature robust to moderate, 60–150 cm
tall, woody. Mid-culm internodes glabrous. Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Lateral
branches sparsely branched. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 2.5–6 mm long,
membranous, truncate or obtuse. Leaf-blades 3–10 mm wide.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle linear, 20–40 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate, terete, 7–10 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong, membranous, much
thinner above, without keels, 3 -nerved. Upper glume oblong, 6–8 mm long,
membranous, without keels, 3 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 5–6 mm long, without keel. Lemma surface indumented. Lemma apex
entire or lobed, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn 30–70(–90) mm long
overall, with a twisted column. Column 7–17 mm long. Palea without keels. Grain
3–3.5 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales,
Victoria.
Western Australia:
Eucla, Drummond, Eyre, Coolgardie. South Australia: Nullabor, Flinders
Ranges, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern
Lofty, South-eastern. New South Wales: North-Western Plains,
South-Western Plains, South Far Western Plains. Victoria: Lowan Mallee,
Murray Mallee.
Notes. Sandy areas of the
western plains of New South Wales and Victoria; arid areas of South Australia
and on limestone of the Nullarbor Plain.
