Austrostipa juncifolia (Hughes)
S.W.L.Jacobs & J.Everett. Telopea 6: 586 (1996).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Stipeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Stipa
juncifolia Hughes, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1921: 11 (1921).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: Drummond, 4th coll. no. 377, Australia:
Westrn Australia: Swan River (K(photo, CANB)).
Key references
(books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (174 as Stipa), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass,
Grasses of Australia, [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol
44A. Poaceae 2 (34).
Illustrations:
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (175,
Pl.51 as Stipa), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae
2 (37, Fig 5).
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present, short. Culms erect, stature reed-like, 60–100 cm
tall, 2–3 -noded. Leaf-sheaths smooth, glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate
membrane, 2.5–8 mm long, membranous, obtuse. Leaf-blades erect, aciculate,
involute or convolute, 30–60 cm long, 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle or a panicle. Panicle linear, 16–35 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate, terete, 9 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous,
without keels, 3–5 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, 9–10 mm long, membranous,
without keels, 3–5 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 7 mm long, without keel. Lemma surface indumented. Lemma apex
dentate or lobed, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn 25–50 mm long
overall, with a twisted column. Column 10–20 mm long. Palea without keels.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia.
Western Australia:
Eyre, Roe, Avon, Coolgardie.
Notes. Similar to A.
geoffreyi and also to A. stipoides, differing from the latter in
several dimensions, including a wider, more open panicle and the awn longer
with respect to the floret.
Margins of salt lakes or saline
depressions in the southern areas of Western Australia.
