Austrostipa dongicola (Vickery,
S.W.L.Jacobs & J.Everett) S.W.L.Jacobs & J.Everett. Telopea 6:
585 (1996).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae.
Tribe Stipeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Stipa dongicola
Vickery, S.W.L. Jacobs & J. Everett, Telopea 3(1): 46 (1986).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia: Western Australia: Blackoak Donga,
Kanandah Station, ca. 20 km N of Naretha Donga, 16 Sep 1974, M.G. Brooker
160 (HT: CANB-249733; IT: NSW).
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 (54).
Illustrations:
[2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australiia, [2009].
A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2 (37, Fig 5).
Derivation: L.
-cola, dweller. Growing in shallow gullies, that is dongas (from Zulu,
udonga) in Western Australia.
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present, short. Culms 100 cm tall, 1.3–2.2 mm diam., 3–4
-noded. Mid-culm internodes pubescent. Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Lateral branches
simple. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 0.8–1.5
mm long, abaxially hairy, truncate or obtuse. Leaf-blades erect, straight or
flexuous, flat or involute, 15–35 cm long, 3–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface
indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle linear, 14–30 cm long, 1–6 cm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, linear, terete, 7–12 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong, membranous, without
keels, 3 -nerved. Upper glume oblong, 8–11 mm long, membranous, without keels,
5 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 5–6.5 mm long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented.
Lemma apex entire or lobed, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn 30–40 mm
long overall, with a twisted column. Column 10–15 mm long. Palea 2 -nerved,
without keels. Lodicules present. Anthers 3. Grain 3–3.5 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia.
Western Australia:
Eucla.
Notes. This species is
similar to A. curticoma but differs in the villous column of the awn,
smaller spikelet dimensions, the glabrous palea, and the conspicuous, glabrous
nodes. It differs also from A. blackii in the villous awn column and in
its shorter coma.
Nullarbor Plain, Western
Australia.
