Austrostipa trichophylla
(Benth.) S.W.L.Jacobs & J.EverettTufted perennial, culms erect to 60 cm high, nodes exserted, glabrous, but shortly pubescent immediately below. Leaf-blades tightly inrolled, to 20 cm long and 0.5 mm diam.; sheaths smooth, scabrous or shortly pubescent; ligules ciliate, 0.5–1 mm long. Inflorescence a sparse panicle to c. 20 cm long. Glumes 9–14 mm long, purplish initially, acuminate or acute, subequal or the lower up to 2 mm longer than upper; lemma 4–6.5 mm long, golden brown at maturity, granular to scabrous, mostly covered with short white hairs, sparse near apex; callus 1–3 mm long; awn falcate, 40–60 mm long, the straight part 6–11 mm long, pubescent with slightly spreading hairs to c. 0.4 mm long; palea slightly shorter than lemma, with a sparse line of hairs down the centre. Flowers Nov.-Jan.
LoM, MuM, Wim, VRiv, MSB, RobP, Gold, CVU, GGr. WA, NT, SA, NSW. Relatively rare in Victoria where known from scattered sites in the west and north-west (Little Desert, Black Range near Stawell, Wedderburn, Gunbower, Ouyen, Mildura areas), and occurring in mallee and woodland formations. Victorian specimens, although conforming to the description provided by Vickery el al. (1986), differ from the type (from WA) and Bentham's (1878) description which emphasizes the rigid, smooth, shining leaf-sheaths as well as the hispid blades.
Walsh, N.G. (1994). Poaceae. In: Walsh, N.G.; Entwisle, T.J., Flora of Victoria Vol. 2, Ferns and Allied Plants, Conifers and Monocotyledons, pp. 356–627. Inkata Press, Melbourne.
