Austrostipa nitida (Summerh. &
C.E.Hubb.) S.W.L.Jacobs & J.Everett. Telopea 6: 587 (1996).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Stipeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Stipa nitida Summerh.
& C.E. Hubb., Bull. Misc. Inform. Kew 1927: 60 (1927).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: F.D. Warren s.n., 25 Aug 1926,
Australia: South Australia: Finnis Springs (S of Lake Eyre) (K(4 sheets; photo,
CANB); IT: AD-9742294, MEL-59959).
Key references
(books and floras): [1981] M.Lazarides in J.Jessop (ed)., Flora of
Central Australia (436 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 (73), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley &
D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales (155), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora
of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (43).
Illustrations:
[1984] N.T.Burbidge. rev. S.W.L.Jacobs, Australian Grasses (251 as Stipa nitida), [2006] J.Jessop,
G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (73, Fig. 34), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs,
R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales, 4th edn
(155), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2
(44, Fig 6).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms erect, 75 cm tall, 1–3 mm diam., 2–3 -noded. Mid-culm
internodes glabrous or pilose. Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Leaves mostly basal.
Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface or hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane or a
fringed membrane, 0.3–1 mm long, truncate. Leaf-blades flat or involute, 20–40
cm long, 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous or scabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle or a panicle. Panicle linear, 25–55 cm long,
0.5–7 cm wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, linear, terete, 8–13 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous, without keels, 3 -nerved. Upper
glume lanceolate, 8–13 mm long, membranous, without keels, 5 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 5–6 mm long, 5 -nerved. Lemma apex awned, 1 -awned. Median
(principal) awn 45–70 mm long overall, with a twisted column. Column 6–9 mm
long. Palea without keels. Grain 2.5–3.5 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia,
Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria.
Western Australia:
Giles, Helms, Ashburton, Carnarvon, Austin. Eucla, Irwin, Roe, Avon,
Coolgardie. Northern Territory: Central Australia South. South
Australia: North-western, Lake Eyre, Nullabor, Gairdner-Torrens Basin,
Flinders Ranges, Eastern, Eyre Peninsula, Northern Lofty, Southern Lofty,
Kangaroo Island, South-eastern. Queensland: Warrego, Maranoa. New
South Wales: North-Western Plains, South-Western Plains, North Far Western
Plains, South Far Western Plains. Victoria: Murray Mallee, Lowan Mallee,
Wimmera, Riverina, Midlands.
Notes. Widespread on sandy soils of the drier
winter rainfall areas in all mainland States.
