Austrostipa semibarbata (R.Br.)
S.W.L.Jacobs & J.Everett. Telopea 6: 588 (1996).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Stipeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Stipa
semibarbata R.Br., Prodr. 174 (1810).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: R. Brown 6204, Australia: Tasmania: Port
Dalrymple (BM).
Key references
(books and floras): [1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus (174 as Stipa),
[1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (568 as Stipa semibarbata),
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (179
as Stipa), [1981] M.Lazarides in J.Jessop (ed)., Flora of Central
Australia (437 as Stipa semibarbata var. semibarbata), [2002]
D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australia, [2002]
J.Wheeler, N.Marchant & M.Lewington, Flora of the South West (404), [2006]
J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (103),
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales (159), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae
2 (20).
Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (104, Fig. 66), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs,
R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn
(159), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2
(18, Fig. 2).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms 30–100 cm tall, 3–5 -noded. Mid-culm nodes pubescent.
Leaf-sheaths scaberulous, glabrous on surface or hairy. Ligule a fringed
membrane, a ciliate membrane, 1–2 mm long, truncate. Leaf-blades erect,
involute or convolute, 15–35 cm long, 1–3(–7) mm wide. Leaf-blade surface
glabrous or indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle oblong, 15–30 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate, terete, 17–24 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear, membranous, without
keels, 3 -nerved. Upper glume linear, 15–25 mm long, membranous, without keels,
5 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 7–8 mm long, without keel. Lemma surface indumented. Lemma apex
awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn 70–110 mm long overall, with a twisted
column. Column 30–40 mm long. Palea without keels. Lodicules present. Anthers
3. Grain 5.5–6.5 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales,
Victoria, Tasmania.
Western Australia:
Drummond, Menzies. South Australia: Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty,
Murray, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South-eastern. New South Wales:
South Coast, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands. Victoria: East
Gippsland, Gippsland Plain, Grampians, Midlands, Otway Plain, Otway Range,
Wilsons Promontory, Volcanic Plain, Wimmera. Tasmania: North East,
Central Highlands, Midlands, East Coast.
Notes. Widespread in
Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia, extending into southern New South Wales
and southern Western Australia.
