Spear-grass - native (Austrostipa gibbosa)

Alternative names: Stipa gibbosa.

Native. Perennial. C3.

Family. Poaceae (Grass family).

Identification:

• it has a usually contracted panicle
• spikelets have a single, awned lemma
• the lemma body is shorter than the glumes
• the leaf blade is flat or inrolled
• the flower clusters are to about 30cm long
• the nodes (along the stalk) are shortly hairy
• the lemmas are 4.5-6.5mm long (excluding the awn), deep reddish brown to black (when mature), and with white or yellow-brown hairs
• the glumes are 9-17mm long
• the lemma is asymmetrical, being lightly swollen on one side
• the awns are 25-45mm long and is twice bent
• the ligule is 0.3-0.5mm long.

It is uncommon, but may be locally abundant e.g. at Joyces Creek. It is a tall grass (a metre or more).

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