Austrostipa drummondii (Steud.) S.W.L.Jacobs & J.Everett APNI* Synonyms: Stipa drummondii Steud. APNI*
Description: Caespitose perennial to 1 m high.
Leaves with ligule membranous but slightly thickened, 0.4–0.8 mm long or continuous with the sheath margins and to 1.5–4 mm long, ovate to irregularly truncate; auricles with tuft of hairs; blade usually expanded with incurved margins or involute, 2–6 wide, scarcely to deeply ribbed on upper surface, scabrous and pubescent or hirsute.
Panicle exserted, spreading, dense, to 40 cm long. Spikelets gaping, 7–12 mm long (excluding awn). Glumes unequal, acuminate or acute, the tips easily torn. Lemma 4–7 mm long, very finely granular, except tuberculate over the apex of the midvein, red to black-brown at maturity; coma obscure or absent; lobes 1 or 2, to 0.2 mm long. Callus fine and straight, silky. Awn falcate, 4–9 cm long. Palea 0.3–0.5 mm shorter than the lemma.
Flowering: in response to rain.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in sandy areas west of the Great Dividing Range.
NSW subdivisions: NWS, CWS, NWP, SWP, NFWP, SFWP
Other Australian states: Vic. W.A. S.A.
Text by SWL Jacobs and J Everett 1993 (as Stipa) Taxon concept: Flora NSW vol 4 (1993)
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