Austrostipa blackii (C.E.Hubbard)
S.W.L.Jacobs & J.Everett. Telopea 6: 584 (1996).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Stipeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Stipa blackii C.E.
Hubb., Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1925: 431 (1925).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: J.M. Black 2, Australia: South
Australia: Jamestown (K(photo, CANB; IT: AD, MEL-59881(probably)).
Recent synonyms:
S. clelandii.
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 (81), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales (152), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia,
Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (53).
Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (81, Fig. 42), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs,
R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn
(152), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2
(37, Fig.5).
Derivation: in
honor John McConnell Black (1855–1951) Scots-born South Australian botanist.
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect or geniculately ascending, 100 cm tall, 1.5–2.5 mm
diam., 3–4 -noded. Mid-culm internodes glabrous or pubescent. Mid-culm nodes
pubescent. Lateral branches simple. Leaf-sheaths scaberulous, glabrous on
surface or hairy. Ligule a fringed membrane, a ciliolate membrane, 0.3–1.5 mm
long, abaxially hairy, truncate. Leaf-blades flat or involute, 10–20 cm long,
2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous, indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle linear, 10–30 cm long, 2–6 cm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, linear, terete, 10–17 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong, membranous, without
keels, 3 -nerved. Upper glume oblong, 8–15 mm long, membranous, without keels,
4–5 -nerved. Upper glume surface smooth or asperulous.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 5–7 mm long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented.
Lemma apex lobed, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn 28–40(–50) mm long
overall, with a twisted column. Column 6–20 mm long. Palea 2 -nerved, without
keels. Lodicules present. Anthers 3. Grain 3.4–3.8 mm long.
Continental Distribution:
Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales,
Victoria, Tasmania.
Western Australia:
Austin. Coolgardie. South Australia: Flinders Ranges, Eyre Peninsula,
Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, South-eastern. New
South Wales: Northern Tablelands, Central Tablelands, Central-Western
Slopes, South-Western Slopes, North-Western Plains, South-Western Plains, South
Far Western Plains. Victoria: East Gippsland, Eastern Highlands,
Gippsland Plain, Grampians, Midlands, Murray Mallee, Riverina, Volcanic Plain,
Wannon, Wimmera. Tasmania: East Coast.
Notes. Widespread on
heavier soils in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia with a few
records from Western Australia.
