Knotty Spear-grass
Austrostipa nodosa
Loosely tufted grass to 1 m tall, with stout erect flowering stems. Flat or inrolled leaves are coarse, rough to the touch, to 30 cm long. Short hairy leaf-collar (ligule) often bordered by a tuft of leaves but rarely with a thickened ear-like projection (auricle). Slender sparse seedheads to 30 cm. Seeds are purplish, drying to golden brown and lightly covered with short white hairs, and a curved sickle-shaped bristle or awn 45-90 mm long.
Details | |
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Flora Type | Grasses |
Former Scientific Name | Stipa nodosa |
Distinctive Features | Leaf nodes much wider than stems. Generally sparse inflorescence which is purplish in colour. |
Biology | Perennial. Highly drought-tolerant. Occurs mostly in dry country on water-retentive and fertile soils. Preferential grazing of other grasses can lead to flowering and seeding of Spear-grass and their long awns (bristles) can work their way into the skin, mouths and eyes of stock, and contaminate wool. |
Native Status | Native |
Flowering Time | Aug-Oct |
Taxonomy | |
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Phylum | Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants) |
Class | Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants) |
Order | Poales |
Family | Poaceae |
Genus | Austrostipa |
Species | nodosa |
Seed coloration and hairiness as well as the awns (bristles on seeds) are important identification features for Spear-grass species. A food source for seed-eating birds including finches. Also attracts moths and butterflies.
Interesting Facts | |
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Similar Species | Similar to the co-occurring Austrostipa scabra. |
Native Status | Native |