Austrostipa mollis (R.Br.) S.W.L.Jacobs & J.Everett APNI* Synonyms: Stipa mollis R.Br. APNI*
Description: Caespitose perennial to c. 1 m high.
Leaves with ligule truncate, membranous, ciliate, 0.5–3 mm long; auricles absent; blade tightly rolled, 1.5–3 mm wide, slightly to strongly ribbed, tomentose on upper surface, margins glabrous to minutely scabrous.
Panicle exserted, contracted, 10–30 cm long. Spikelets gaping, 16–20 mm long (excluding awn). Glumes equal to subequal, acuminate. Lemma 7.5–9 mm long, smooth to granular upwards, silky with white hairs over most of the body, red-brown at maturity; lobes and coma absent. Callus weakly bent at the tip, densely silky. Awn twice bent, plumose, 6–10 cm long; column 2–3.5 cm long, 1–1.7 c. to the first bend. Palea subequal to the lemma.
Flowering: spring–summer or in response to rain.
Distribution and occurrence: Widespread on sandy and/or low-nutrient soils.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, NT, CT, ST, CWS, SWS, SWP, SFWP
Other Australian states: Vic. Tas. 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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