Austrostipa centralis (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 centralis
Vickery, S.W.L. Jacobs & J. Everett, Telopea 3(1): 39 (1986).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia: Northern Territory: Mt. Riddock, 23.06S
134.38E, erect perennial, common in skeletal soil, southern slope of
metamorphic hill, 13 Sep 1973, P.K. Latz 4305 (HT: NT-41138).
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 (56).
Illustrations:
[2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2 (18,
fig.2M).
Derivation: L. centrum,
centre of a circle; -ale, pertaining to. From Central Australia.
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present, short. Culms 40–80 cm tall, 1 mm diam., 4–5
-noded. Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Lateral branches simple. Leaf-sheaths glabrous
on surface or hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 0.6–1 mm long, scarious,
abaxially hairy, acute. Leaf-blades involute, 10–25 cm long, 1.5 mm wide.
Leaf-blade surface scaberulous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle linear, 10–20 cm long, 1–2.5 cm
wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, linear, terete, 13–18 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic, hyaline, without
keels, 3 -nerved. Lower glume surface indumented. Upper glume elliptic, 12–16
mm long, hyaline, without keels, 5 -nerved. Upper glume surface indumented.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 5–9 mm long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Lemma surface glabrous.
Lemma apex entire or dentate or lobed, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn
from a sinus, 50–60 mm long overall, with a twisted column. Column 12–25 mm
long. Palea 2 -nerved, without keels. Lodicules present. Anthers 3. Grain 2.5
mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Northern Territory.
Northern Territory:
Central Australia South.
Notes. The panicle of this
species is sparse, with relatively few (less than 30) spikelets.
Slopes of the Central Australian
Ranges.
