Austrostipa setacea (R.Br.) S.W.L.Jacobs
& J.Everett. Telopea 6: 589 (1996).
Classification.
(GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Stipeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Stipa setacea R.Br.,
Prodr. 174 (1810).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: LT: Brown s.n., 1802–1805, Autralia: New
South Wales: Port Jackson (BM). LT designated by Vickery, Jacobs & Everett,
Telopea 3: 113 (1986).
Recent synonyms:
Stipa brachystephana.
Key references
(books and floras): [1810]. R.Brown, Prodromus (174 as Stipa),
[1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (568 as Stipa setacea),
[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 (80), [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 (26).
Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (80, Fig. 41), [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
(37, Fig 5).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect or geniculately ascending, 40–80 cm tall, 1 mm diam.,
2–4 -noded. Mid-culm internodes glabrous or pubescent. Mid-culm nodes glabrous.
Lateral branches simple. Leaf-sheaths smooth or scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate
membrane, 2–9 mm long, membranous, obtuse. Leaf-blades conduplicate or involute,
15–30 cm long, 0.5–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle linear, 10–20 cm long, 1.5–3 cm
wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret(s),
without rachilla extension, linear, terete, 9–15 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, hyaline, without
keels, 3 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, 7–10 mm long, hyaline, without keels,
5 -nerved. Upper glume surface smooth or asperulous.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 5.5–7 mm long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented.
Lemma apex entire, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn 25–40 mm long
overall, with a twisted column. Column 5–8 mm long. Palea 2 -nerved. Lodicules
present. Anthers 3. Grain 2.5–3 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: South Australia, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria.
South Australia:
Flinders Ranges, Eastern, Northern Lofty, Murray, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo
Island, South-eastern. Queensland: Darling Downs, Maranoa. New South
Wales: North Coast, Central Coast, Northern Tablelands, Central Tablelands,
Southern Tablelands, North-Western Slopes, Central-Western Slopes,
South-Western Slopes, North-Western Plains, South-Western Plains. Victoria:
Grampians, Midlands, Volcanic Plain, Wimmera.
Notes. Widespread but not
common in southern Queensland, New South Wales, southern Victoria and southern
South Australia.
