Austrostipa echinata (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 echinata Vickery,
S.W.L. Jacobs & J. Everett, Telopea 3(1): 50 (1986).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: South Australia: Hindmarsh I., E of Goolwa, 10 Oct
1945, F.M. Hilton s.n. (HT: NSW-117382).
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 (91), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae
2 (32).
Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (92, fig. 54), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.),
Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2 (31, Fig 4).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect, 50 cm tall, 1.5–2 mm diam., 3–4 -noded. Mid-culm nodes
pubescent. Lateral branches simple. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface.
Leaf-sheath auricles present. Ligule an eciliate membrane or a fringed
membrane, a ciliolate membrane, 1.5–2.5 mm long, membranous, abaxially hairy,
truncate or obtuse. Leaf-blades erect, involute or convolute, 7–15 cm long, 1–2
mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle linear, 10–20 cm long, 1.5–3 cm
wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, linear, terete, 21–23 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous,
without keels, 3 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, 14–18 mm long, membranous,
without keels, 5 -nerved. Upper glume surface smooth to scabrous.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 8–10 mm long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented.
Lemma apex dentate or lobed, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn from a
sinus, 90–110 mm long overall, with a twisted column. Column 10–35 mm long.
Palea 2 -nerved, without keels. Lodicules present. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: South Australia.
South Australia:
Eyre Peninsula, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, South-eastern.
Notes. Coastal and
near-coastal areas of South Australia.
