Austrostipa variabilis (Hughes)
S.W.L.Jacobs & J.Everett. Telopea 6: 589 (1996).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Stipeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Stipa
variabilis D.K.Hughes, Kew Bull. 1921, 15 (1921).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: Drummond 961, Australia:Western
Australia (K (photo, CANB); IT: MEL-59987).
Key references
(books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (182 as Stipa), [1981] M.Lazarides in J.Jessop (ed)., Flora
of Central Australia (438 as Stipa), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon,
AusGrass, Grasses of Australia, [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of
Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (50).
Illustrations:
[2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2 (44,
Fig 6).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect, 30–80 cm tall, 1–1.5 mm diam., 1–3 -noded. Mid-culm
nodes glabrous or pubescent. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringed
membrane, a ciliolate membrane, 0.5–2 mm long, truncate. Leaf-blades flexuous,
involute or convolute, 9–25 cm long, 0.5–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous
or indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle or a panicle. Panicle linear, 10–35 cm long,
2–3 cm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate, terete, 10–15 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma, shiny. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous,
much thinner above, without keels, 3 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, 8.5–15 mm
long, membranous, without keels, 5 -nerved. Upper glume surface asperulous.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 6–8 mm long, without keel, 3 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented.
Lemma apex lobed, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn 50–70(–90) mm long
overall, with a twisted column. Column 11–25 mm long. Palea without keels.
Anthers 3. Grain 3–4 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Africa and Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia.
Western Australia:
Austin. Eucla, Irwin, Drummond, Menzies, Eyre, Roe, Avon, Coolgardie. South
Australia: Nullabor, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Yorke Peninsula,
Southern Lofty, South-eastern.
Notes. Southern Western
Australia and eastwards to southern regions of South Australia.
