Austrostipa geoffreyi (Hughes)
S.W.L.Jacobs & J.Everett. Telopea 6: 585 (1996).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Stipeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Stipa geoffreyi.
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Western Australia: Lake King, 33o05"26S
119o33"37E, 12 Feb 1993, S.W.L. Jacobs 7030 (HT:NSW-293105.
IT:PERTH).
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 (35).
Illustrations:
[2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of Australiia, [2009].
A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2 (37, Fig 5).
Habit. Rhizomes
present, short. Culms 180 cm tall. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 6–12 mm long,
membranous, acute. Leaf-blades involute, 1–2 mm wide.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle or a panicle. Panicle linear, 30–40 cm long.
Spikelets.
Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), without rachilla
extension, 10–16 mm long.
Glumes. Lower
glume lanceolate. Upper glume lanceolate, 12–16 mm long.
Florets. Lemma
apex lobed, awned. Median (principal) awn 50–80 mm long overall, with a twisted
column. Column 10–20 mm long. Grain 6 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia.
Western Australia:
Warren, Roe.
Notes. Similar to A.
juncifolia but differs in being considerably more robust with wider
sheaths, longer leaves, a denser inflorescence, an awn to 7 cm long, and larger
in its floral parts.
Known only from the islands of,
and the causeway across, Lake King, a salt lake in southern Western Australia.
