Austrostipa
aphylla (Rodway) S.W.L.Jacobs
& J.Everett. Telopea 6: 584 (1996).
Classification.
(GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Stipeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Stipa aphylla (Rodway)
Townrow, Pap. & Proc. Roy. Soc. Tasmania 104: 85, 96 (1970).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: LT: Rodway 995, Nov 1897, Australia:
Tasmania: Huon Road, Hobart (HO). LT designated by Vickery, Jacobs &
Everett, Telopea 3: 27 (!986).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae
2 (39).
Illustrations:
[2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australiia, [2009].
A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2 (55, Fig 8).
Derivation: Gk.
a-, without; phyllon, leaf. The leaves lack blades.
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present, short. Culms erect, stature slender to delicate,
50–90 cm tall, 0.5–1 mm diam., 3–4 -noded. Mid-culm nodes pubescent.
Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringed membrane, a ciliate
membrane, 0.1–0.4 mm long, membranous, bilobed or trilobed, obtuse. Leaf-blades
involute, 2–4.5 cm long, 1–1.5 mm wide.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle lanceolate, 11–17(–25) cm long, 3 cm
wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate, terete, 13.5–15 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear, membranous, without
keels, 3 -nerved. Upper glume linear, 12.5–15 mm long, membranous, without
keels, 3–5 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 8–11 mm long, without keel. Lemma surface indumented. Lemma apex
entire or lobed, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn 60–85 mm long overall,
with a twisted column. Column 35–51 mm long. Palea without keels. Lodicules
present. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Tasmania.
Tasmania: North
East, East Coast, South West.
Notes. Austrostipa
aphylla is superficially similar to A. muelleri, especially because
of the reduction and deciduous nature of the leaf blades, but A. aphylla
differs markedly in that the margins of the lemma are not or scarcely continued
as distinct membranous lobes and the lemma has a minute crown of hairs.
South-eastern Tasmania.
