Austrostipa petraea (Vickery)
S.W.L.Jacobs & J.Everett. Telopea 6: 587 (1996).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Stipeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Stipa petraea Vickery,
Telopea 2: 15 (1980).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: South Australia: Flinders Ranges, Brachina Gorge,
Oraparinna National Park, western portion, 18 Sep 1971, J.Z. Weber 2577
(HT: AD).
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 (90), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae
2 (35).
Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (90, fig. 52), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.),
Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2 (37, Fig 5).
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present, short. Culms erect, 50–100 cm tall, 1.5–2 mm
diam., 3–5 -noded. Mid-culm nodes pubescent. Lateral branches simple. Leaves
mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringed membrane, a
ciliate membrane, 0.1–1 mm long, membranous, truncate. Leaf-blades conduplicate
or involute, 25–50 cm long, 1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous,
glabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle linear, 25 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, linear, terete, 11–15 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous,
without keels, 6 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, 11–13 mm long, membranous,
without keels, 5 -nerved. Upper glume surface asperulous.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 7–9.5 mm long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Lemma surface indumented.
Lemma apex lobed, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn from a sinus, 40–55
mm long overall, with a twisted column. Column 10–25 mm long. Palea 2 -nerved, without
keels. Lodicules present. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: South Australia.
South Australia:
Flinders Ranges, Eastern, Northern Lofty.
Notes. Apparently endemic
to the Flinders Ranges and the Eastern Region close to the Ranges in South
Australia.
