Austrostipa scabra (Lindley) S.W.L.Jacobs
& J.Everett. Telopea 6: 588 (1996).
Classification.
(GPWG 2001) : Subfamily Pooideae. Tribe Stipeae.
Basionym and/or
Replacement Name: Stipa scabra Lindl.,
J. Trop. Australia 31 (1848.).
Type of Basionym or
Protologue Information: HT: Mitchell 125, 1846, Australia: New South
Wales: Moora, on the Bogan River (CGE; IT: NSW).
Key references
(books and floras): [1878] G.Bentham, Flora Australiensis 7 (570 as Stipa
scabra), [1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae
(177 as Stipa), [1981] M.Lazarides in J.Jessop (ed)., Flora of
Central Australia (437 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 (75), [2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Walley &
D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South Wales (158), [2009] A.Wilson (ed.). Flora
of Australia, Vol 44A. Poaceae 2 (47 as subsp. scabra, 48 as
subsp. falcata).
Illustrations:
[1952] C.A.Gardner, Flora of Western Australia 1 Gramineae (175,
Pl.51 as Stipa), [2006] J.Jessop, G.R.M.Dashorst, F.M.James, Grasses
of South Australia (77, Fig. 38, as
subsp. scabra & subsp. falcata),
[2008] S.W.L.Jacobs, R.D.B.Whalley & D.J.B.Wheeler, Grasses of New South
Wales, 4th edn (158).
Habit.
Perennial. Culms 30–60 cm tall, compressible. Mid-culm internodes glabrous.
Mid-culm nodes glabrous. Lateral branches simple. Leaf-sheaths smooth or
scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane, 0.3–5 mm long, membranous, bilobed,
truncate. Leaf-blades conduplicate or involute or convolute, 0.7–2 mm wide.
Leaf-blade surface scabrous, glabrous or indumented.
Inflorescence.
Inflorescence compound, a panicle or a panicle. Panicle linear, 15–30 cm long.
Spikelets.
Spikelets pedicelled. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile
floret(s), without rachilla extension, lanceolate, terete, 8–10 mm long.
Glumes. Glumes
similar, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, hyaline, without
keels, 3 -nerved. Upper glume lanceolate, 6–13 mm long, hyaline, without keels,
3–5 -nerved.
Florets.
Fertile lemma 4–5 mm long, without keel. Lemma surface indumented. Lemma apex
lobed, awned, 1 -awned. Median (principal) awn 30–70 mm long overall, with a
twisted column. Column 5.5–15 mm long. Palea without keels. Grain 2.5–4.5 mm
long.
Continental
Distribution: Australasia and Pacific.
Australian
Distribution: Western Australia, Northern Territory, South Australia,
Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, A.C.T.
Western Australia:
Giles, Helms, Austin. Eucla. Northern Territory: Central Australia
South. South Australia: North-western, Lake Eyre, Nullabor,
Gairdner-Torrens Basin, Flinders Ranges, Eastern, Eyre Peninsula, Northern
Lofty, Murray, Yorke Peninsula, Southern Lofty, Kangaroo Island, South-eastern.
Queensland: Burnett, Darling Downs, Leichhardt, Maranoa, Moreton,
Warrego. New South Wales: North Coast, Central Coast, Northern
Tablelands, Central Tablelands, Southern Tablelands, North-Western Slopes,
Central-Western Slopes, South-Western Slopes, North-Western Plains, South-Western
Plains, South Far Western Plains. Victoria: East Gippsland, Eastern
Highlands, Gippsland Plain, Grampians, Lowan Mallee, Midlands, Murray Mallee,
Riverina, Volcanic Plain, Wannon, Wimmera. Tasmania: East Coast.
Notes. Two subspecies are
recognised, with geographic distributions predominantly in different areas, but
with extensive overlap.
A widespread species occurring in
all states and Northern Territory.
subsp. scabra
Widespread through southern Queensland, New
South Wales and South Australia; extending into Victoria, Western Australia,
Tasmania and Northern Territory. Most abundant in the summer rainfall region.
subsp.
falcata (Hughes) S.W.L.Jacobs & J.Everett
Mainly
Tableland and southern areas of New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia,
just getting into southern Queensland. Most abundant in the winter rainfall
region.
Infra-specific
taxa: subsp. scabra, subsp. falcata.
Inflorescence narrow;
ligules 0.6–1mm long A. scabra subsp. scabra
Inflorescence
spreading; ligules 0.3--0.6mm long A. scabra subsp. falcata
