Austrostipa blakei (Vickery, S.W.L.Jacobs
& J.Everett) S.W.L.Jacobs & J.Everett. Telopea 6: 584 (1996).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Stipeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Stipa blakei Vickery,
S.W.L. Jacobs & J. Everett, Telopea 3(1): 34 (1986).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia: Queensland: Warrego: Charleville, 4 Apr
1936, open places on sand, ca. 950 ft, tufted, erect, 2–3 ft, dark green,
spikelets paler, S.T. Blake 11024 (HT: BRI-250581).
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [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 (45).
Illustrations:
[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 of Stanley Thatcher Blake (1911–1973), Queensland botanist.
Habit.
Perennial. Culms 30–100 cm tall, 1–2 mm diam., 2–4 -noded. Mid-culm internodes
glabrous or pubescent. Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Lateral branches simple.
Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface or hairy. Ligule a fringed membrane, a
ciliolate membrane, 1–2.5 mm long, truncate. Leaf-blades involute, 15–28 cm
long, 1.5–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle linear, 20–35 cm long, 2–3 cm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, linear, terete, 14–18 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, hyaline, without
keels, 3 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, 13–17 mm long, hyaline, without
keels, 5 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 7–8 mm long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented.
Lemma apex dentate or lobed, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn from a
sinus, 70–100 mm long overall, with a twisted column. Column 9–13 mm long.
Palea 2 -nerved, without keels. Lodicules present. Anthers 3. Grain 4.5 mm
long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Queensland, NSW.
Queensland:
Leichhardt, Maranoa, Mitchell, Warrego.
Notes. Mainly on sandy
soils in western Queensland and one record in NSW.
