Austrostipa vickeryana (J.Everett &
S.W.L.Jacobs) S.W.L.Jacobs & J.Everett. Telopea 6: 589 (1996).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Stipeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Stipa
vickeryana J. Everett & S.W.L. Jacobs. Telopea 2(4): 397 (1983).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: Australia: South Australia: Ifoud Lake, Nullarbor
Plain Series R502 BArton 5121 74, 30.55S 132.05E, common grass, forming dense
clumps, heads open, spreading, 2 Oct 1975, R.J. Chinnock 2729 (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 (85), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae
2 (28).
Illustrations:
[2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (86, fig. 47), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.),
Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2 (55, Fig 8).
Habit. Annual
or perennial. Culms 20–45 cm tall, 2–2.5 mm diam., 1–2 -noded. Mid-culm
internodes glabrous. Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Lateral branches simple.
Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface or hairy. Ligule a fringed membrane, a
ciliolate membrane, 2.5–8(–13) mm long, lacerate. Leaf-blades flat or
conduplicate, 9–18 cm long, 1.5–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle. Panicle 9–20 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, linear, terete, 14–18 mm long.
Glumes.
Glumes similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, membranous,
without keels, 3 -nerved. Lower glume surface glabrous or indumented. Upper
glume lanceolate, 9–14 mm long, membranous, without keels, 5 -nerved. Upper
glume surface asperulous, glabrous or indumented.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 6–7 mm long, without keel, 5 -nerved. Lemma surface glabrous.
Lemma apex awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn 80–125 mm long overall,
without a column or with a twisted column. Column 15–32 mm long. Palea 2
-nerved, without keels. Lodicules present. Anthers 3.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, South Australia.
Western Australia:
Coolgardie. South Australia: Nullabor, Gairdner-Torrens Basin.
Notes. Inland saline areas
of eastern Western Australia, where it has not been collected recently, to
central South Australia.
