Austrostipa ramosissima (Trin.)
S.W.L.Jacobs & J.Everett. Telopea 6: 588 (1996).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Stipeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Urachne
ramosissima Trin., Gram. Unifl. Sesquifl. 173 (1824).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: Sieber 82, (LE; IT: BM, K, L, P). see
Hughes, Kew Bull. Misc. Inf (1921); also Vickery et al., Telopea 3 : 101
(1986): 28. 1921.
Recent synonyms:
Stipa ramosissima.
Key references
(books and floras): [2002] D.Sharp & B.K.Simon, AusGrass, Grasses of
Australia, [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses
of New South Wales (157), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia,
Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (61).
Illustrations:
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales, 4th edn (157), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A:
Poaceae 2 (44, Fig 6).
Habit.
Perennial. Rhizomes present, short. Culms erect, 100–250 cm tall, 0.5–7 mm
diam., woody, 6–9 -noded. Mid-culm internodes glabrous. Lateral branches
fastigiate. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an
eciliate membrane, 0.25–0.5 mm long, membranous, erose. Leaf-blades 35–40 cm
long, 1–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle elliptic, 8–20(–50) cm long, 2–4 cm
wide.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, linear, terete, 2.3–5 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous,
without keels, 3 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, 2.4–2.8 mm long, membranous,
without keels, 3 -nerved. Upper glume surface smooth. Upper glume apex erose.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 1.8–2.5 mm long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Lemma surface glabrous.
Lemma apex lobed, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn 14–30 mm long
overall, with a twisted column. Column 4–7 mm long. Palea 2 -nerved, without
keels. Lodicules present. Anthers 3. Grain 1.5–1.6 mm long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Queensland, New South Wales, Lord Howe (*).
Queensland:
Burnett, Cook, Darling Downs, Leichhardt, Maranoa, Moreton, North Kennedy, Port
Curtis, Wide Bay. New South Wales: North Coast, Central Coast, South
Coast, Northern Tablelands, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands,
North-Western Slopes, Central-Western Slopes, North-Western Plains.
Notes. Usually in moist,
well-drained gullies, near forest or woodland margins in eastern mainland
States, including Lord Howe Island.
