Austrostipa semibarbata
(R.Br.) S.W.L.Jacobs & J.EverettTufted perennial, culms erect, to 90 cm high, nodes pubescent. Leaves usually glabrous, sometimes scabrous, rarely pubescent; blade inrolled to involute, to 30 cm long and 3 mm broad; ligule ciliate 0.5–2 mm long. Inflorescence a loosely contracted panicle to 20(–30) cm long. Glumes 20–27 mm long, purplish or green, soon becoming straw-coloured, acuminate, sub-equal; lemma 9–13 mm long, reddish brown to almost black at maturity, finely granular, with semi-appressed white to yellowish hairs except toward apex; callus 2.5–3.5 mm long; awn twice bent, 60–110 mm long, 18–30 mm to the first bend, column evenly pubescent with hairs 0.3–1.2 mm long; palea about equal to lemma, with a line of hairs down the centre. Flowers Sep.–Dec.
LoM, MuM, Wim, GleP, VVP, VRiv, GipP, OtP, WaP, Gold, CVU, GGr, DunT, NIS, EGL, EGU, WPro, HSF, HNF, OtR, Strz, VAlp. Also WA, SA, NSW, Tas. Occurring in dry woodland, grassland, particularly of the volcanic plain, and coastal heathland.
Occasional specimens appear intermediate between Austrostipa semibarbata and A. mollis, but careful examination usually allows satisfactory separation of the species.
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.
Spinning
