Austrostipa elegantissima (Labill.)
S.W.L.Jacobs & J.Everett. Telopea 6: 585 (1996).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Stipeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Stipa
elegantissima Labill., Nov. Holl. Pl. 1: 23, t. 29 (1804 [1805]).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: LT: Labillardiere s.n., Australia: W.
Australia: "Habitat in capite Van-Diemen." (FI-W). LT designated by
Vickery, Jacobs & Everett, Telopea 3: 51 (1986).
Key references
(books and floras): [1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus (175 as Stipa),
[1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (565 as Stipa elegantissima),
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (172
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 (67), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales (153), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia,
Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (59).
Illustrations:
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (173,
Pl.50 as Stipa), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses
of South Australia (67, Fig. 28),
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales, 4th edn (153), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A:
Poaceae 2 (18, Fig 2).
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present, short or elongated. Culms sprawling, 100–300 cm
tall. Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Lateral branches branched. Leaf-sheaths
scaberulous, glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 2–5 mm long,
membranous, lacerate, obtuse. Leaf-blades involute, 1–2 mm wide.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle pyramidal, 15–25 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate, terete, 8–10 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous,
without keels, 3 -nerved. Lower glume surface indumented. Upper glume
lanceolate, 7–11 mm long, membranous, without keels, 3 -nerved. Upper glume
surface indumented.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 8 mm long, without keel. Lemma surface indumented. Lemma apex
lobed, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn 20–55 mm long overall, with a
twisted column. Column 8–15(–20) mm long. Palea without keels. Grain 4–5 mm
long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales,
Victoria.
Western Australia:
Canning, Carnegie, Ashburton, Austin. Eucla, Irwin, Dale, Eyre, Roe, Avon, Coolgardie. South Australia:
Nullabor, Gairdner-Torrens Basin, Flinders Ranges, Eastern, Eyre Peninsula,
Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island,
South-eastern. New South Wales: Central Coast, Central Tablelands,
Southern Tablelands, Central-Western Slopes, South-Western Slopes,
North-Western Plains, South-Western Plains, North Far Western Plains, South Far
Western Plains. Victoria: Gippsland Plain, Grampians, Lowan Mallee,
Midlands, Murray Mallee, Riverina, Volcanic Plain, Wimmera.
Notes. Southern Western
Slopes and Plains of New South Wales, extending into Victoria, across the
mallee regions of South Australia and the southern regions of Western
Australia.
