Austrostipa breviglumis (J.M.Black)
S.W.L.Jacobs & J.Everett. Telopea 6 : 584 (1996).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Stipeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Stipa
breviglumis J. M. Black, Trans. & Proc. Roy. Soc. South Australia 65:
333 (1941).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: LT: J.B. Cleland s.n., 8 Oct 1927,
Australia: South Australia: Lyndoch (AD; ILT: MEL-59884). LT designated by
Vickery, Jacobs & Everett, Telopea 3: 35 (1986).
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 (70), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae
2 (22).
Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (70, fig. 31), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.),
Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2 (31, Fig 4).
Derivation: L.
brevis, short; gluma, husk. One or both glumes short with respect to
the length of the spikelet.
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present, short. Culms erect or geniculately ascending, 150
cm tall, 2.5 mm diam., 2–4 -noded. Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Lateral branches
branched. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths scaberulous, glabrous on surface or
hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 1–7 mm long, membranous, truncate.
Leaf-blades flat or involute, 10–20 cm long, 2–2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface
scabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle linear, 20–40 cm long, 2–4 cm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, linear, terete, 5–6.5 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, hyaline, without
keels, 3–5 -nerved. Lower glume surface indumented. Upper glume lanceolate,
4.5–6 mm long, hyaline, without keels, 3 -nerved. Upper glume surface
indumented.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 3–4.5 mm long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented.
Lemma apex awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn 20–35 mm long overall, with
a twisted column. Column 5–15 mm long. Palea 2 -nerved, without keels.
Lodicules present. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: South Australia, Victoria.
South Australia:
Flinders Ranges, Northern Lofty, Southern Lofty. Victoria: Midlands.
Notes. This tall species
has sturdy culms with up to several branches at the nodes, although not
whorled, and lacks a basal tuft of leaves.
Central and southern Victoria and
into the Lofty Regions of South Australia.
