Austrostipa gibbosa (Vickery)
S.W.L.Jacobs & J.Everett. Telopea 6: 586 (1996).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Stipeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Stipa gibbosa Vickery,
Telopea 2: 14 (1980).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: South Australia: Burnside Distr.: Beaumont Common,
ca. 6 km SE of Adelaide, 11 Oct 1942, Cleland s.n. (AD-96323216).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South
Australia (83), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales (154), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia,
Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (51).
Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (83, Fig. 44), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs,
R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn
(154), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2
(37, Fig 5).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect, 100–150 cm tall, 1.5–2.5 mm diam., 2–3 -noded. Mid-culm
nodes pubescent. Lateral branches simple. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface.
Ligule a fringed membrane, a ciliolate membrane, 0.3–0.5 mm long, abaxially
hairy, truncate. Leaf-blades flat or convolute, 15–30 cm long, 2–5 mm wide.
Leaf-blade surface indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle linear, 15–30(–40) cm long, 1.5–2 cm
wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, linear, terete, 11–17 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic, membranous, without
keels, 3 -nerved. Upper glume elliptic, 8–13 mm long, membranous, without
keels, 5 -nerved. Upper glume surface scabrous.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 4.5–6 mm long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented.
Lemma apex entire, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn 25–35(–50) mm long
overall, with a twisted column. Column 5–20 mm long. Palea 2 -nerved, without
keels. Lodicules present. Anthers 3. Grain 3.5 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria.
South Australia:
Flinders Ranges, Northern Lofty, Murray, Southern Lofty, South-eastern. New
South Wales: South-Western Slopes, South-Western Plains. Victoria:
Midlands, Riverina, Volcanic Plain, Wimmera.
Notes. The floret of this
species is gibbous, with an eccentric awn.
South-western New South Wales,
north-western Victoria and the Northern Lofty and Southern Lofty Regions of
South Australia.
