Austrostipa platychaeta (Hughes)
S.W.L.Jacobs & J.Everett. Telopea 6: 587 (1996).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Stipeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Stipa
platychaeta Hughes, Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1921: 16, f. 17 &
17A (1921).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: Koch 1133 pro parte, Australia: Western
Australia: Lake Cowcowing (K).
Key references (books
and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae
(177 as Stipa platychaeta), [1981] M.Lazarides in J.Jessop (ed)., Flora
of Central Australia (437 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 (71), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs,
R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales (156),
[2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2
(23).
Illustrations:
[2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australiia, [2006]
J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (71, Fig. 32), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs,
R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn
(155), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2
(31, Fig 4).
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present, short. Culms erect or geniculately ascending,
60–200 cm tall, wiry or woody, 5–10 -noded. Mid-culm internodes glabrous.
Lateral branches simple or sparsely branched. Leaf-sheaths smooth, glabrous on
surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 1–6 mm long, membranous, truncate or
obtuse. Leaf-blades flat or involute, 7–15 cm long, 1–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade
surface glabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle lanceolate, 10–40 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate, terete, 12–15 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous, much
thinner above, without keels, 3 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, 6–10(–12) mm
long, membranous, without keels, 5 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 5 mm long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented.
Lemma apex entire or lobed, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn 60–80(–90)
mm long overall, with a twisted column. Column 10–15 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:
Austin. Eucla, Eyre, Roe, Avon, Coolgardie. South Australia: Lake Eyre,
Nullabor, Gairdner-Torrens Basin, Eastern, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty,
Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty. New South Wales: Central-Western
Slopes, South-Western Slopes, North-Western Plains, South-Western Plains, North
Far Western Plains, South Far Western Plains. Victoria: Lowan Mallee,
Midlands, Murray Mallee, Riverina.
Notes. Plains of New South
Wales and north-western Victoria, across all but the far north of South
Australia, and widespread in southern Western Australia. Usually on sandy soils
in woodland or mallee.
