Austrostipa velutina (Vickery,
S.W.L.Jacobs & J.Everett) S.W.L.Jacobs & J.Everett. Telopea 6:
589 (1996).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae.
Tribe Stipeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Stipa velutina Vickery,
S.W.L. Jacobs & J. Everett, Telopea 3(1): 126 (1986).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: South Australia: Nullarbor: Head of Bright, 7 Aug
1973, Noble s.n. (HT: NSW-117409).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South
Australia (97), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae
2 (33).
Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (97, fig. 59), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.),
Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2 (31, Fig 4).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms geniculately ascending, 30–80 cm tall, 1.5–2 mm diam. Mid-culm
nodes pubescent. Lateral branches simple. Leaf-sheaths hairy. Ligule a fringed
membrane, a ciliolate membrane, 0.2–1 mm long, membranous, abaxially hairy,
entire or erose, truncate or obtuse. Leaf-blades flat or involute or convolute,
20–40 cm long, 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle linear, 15 cm long, 0.5–2 cm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, linear, terete, 9–12 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous,
without keels, 3 -nerved. Lower glume surface indumented. Upper glume
lanceolate, 6.5–10 mm long, membranous, without keels, 5 -nerved. Upper glume
surface indumented.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 5–6.5 mm long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented.
Lemma apex entire or lobed, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn 30–45 mm
long overall, with a twisted column. Column 7–25 mm long. Palea 2 -nerved,
without keels. Lodicules present. Anthers 3. Grain 3 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia.
Western Australia:
Eucla. South Australia: Nullabor, Eyre Peninsula.
Notes. Coast and islands
of the Great Australian Bight.
