Nassella leucotricha* (Trin. & Rupr.) Pohl. Taxon 39: 610 (1990).
Classification. (GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Stipeae.
Basionym and/or Replacement Name: Stipa leucotricha Trin. & Rupr., Sp. Gram. Stipac. 54 (1842).
Type of Basionym or Protologue Information: HT: [Drummond?], USA: Texas I,5 (LE-TRIN-1414.01; IT: US-557432).
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 (107), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (66).
Illustrations: [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses of South Australia (107, fig. 69), [2009]. A.Wilson (ed.), Flora of Australia 44A: Poaceae 2 (63, Fig 9).
Habit. Perennial. Culms erect or decumbent (slightly), 20–50 cm tall, 1.5–3 mm diam. Mid-culm internodes glabrous. Mid-culm nodes pubescent. Leaves basal and cauline. Leaf-sheaths smooth to scaberulous. Leaf-sheath auricles present. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 0.4–0.7 mm long, membranous, truncate. Leaf-blades flat or involute, 10–30 cm long, 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous or indumented.
Inflorescence. Inflorescence compound, a panicle or a panicle. Panicle 15 cm long, 1–3 cm wide.
Spikelets. Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret(s), elliptic, laterally compressed, 10–17 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, 10–16 mm long, membranous, without keels, 3(–5) -nerved.
Florets. Fertile lemma 5.3–5.7 mm long, without keel. Lemma surface indumented. Lemma apex entire, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn 50–60 mm long overall, with a twisted column. Column 20–30 mm long. Palea without keels. Lodicules present. Anthers 3.
Continental Distribution: Australasia, North America, and South America.
Australian Distribution: Victoria.
Victoria: Gippsland Plain, Midlands, Volcanic Plain.
Notes. Native to southern N. America; naturalised in suburban Melbourne, and in the Castlemaine, Ballarat and Geelong areas, Victoria.
