Austrostipa eremophila (Reader)
S.W.L.Jacobs & J.Everett. Telopea 6: 585 (1996).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Stipeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Stipa
eremophila Reader, Victoria Naturalist 17: 154 (190).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: F.M. Reader s.n., 1898, Australia:
Victoria: Sandy Desert. Lowan (MEL-59873).
Recent synonyms:
Stipa dura.
Key references
(books and floras): [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1
Gramineae (180 as Stipa), [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass,
Grasses of Australia, [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses
of South Australia (98), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley &
D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales (153), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora
of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (56).
Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (98, Fig. 60), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs,
R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn
(153), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2
(18, Fig. 2K).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect or geniculately ascending, 60–100 cm tall. Mid-culm
nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface or hairy. Ligule an eciliate
membrane or a fringed membrane, a ciliolate membrane, 0.5–1.5 mm long,
truncate. Leaf-blades involute or convolute, 25–55 cm long, 1.5–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade
surface glabrous or indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle linear, 15–30 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate, terete, 13–17 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous, much
thinner above, without keels, 3 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, 10–18 mm long,
membranous, without keels, 5 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 10 mm long, without keel. Lemma surface indumented. Lemma apex
lobed, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn 50–90(–110) mm long overall,
with a twisted column. Column 15–38 mm long. Palea without keels. Grain 3.4–4.5
mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia, New South Wales,
Victoria.
Western Australia:
Eucla, Avon, Coolgardie. South Australia: Nullabor, Gairdner-Torrens
Basin, Flinders Ranges, Eastern, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Murray, Yorke
Peninsula, Southern Lofty, South-eastern. New South Wales: South-Western
Slopes, South-Western Plains, North Far Western Plains, South Far Western
Plains. Victoria: Lowan Mallee, Midlands, Murray Mallee, Volcanic Plain,
Wimmera.
Notes. A variable species
in which occasional specimens may exhibit one of the following variations:
hairy leaf sheath orifices, almost glabrous lemmas, long lemma lobes, or hairy
awn bristles (like A. plumigera).
Southern Slopes and Plains of New
South Wales, north-western regions of Victoria, across the southern half of
South Australia and the Nullarbor Plain into the south of Western Australia.
Mainly in woodlands or mallee but not uncommon on the limestone areas of the
Nullarbor Plain.
