Plump Spear-grass

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©Austrostipa aristiglumis Harry Rose via flickr CC2.0, Austrostipa aristiglumis Harry Rose via flickr CC2.0, Austrostipa aristiglumis Harry Rose via flickr CC2.0

Austrostipa aristiglumis

Perennial grass to 2 m tall. Flat leaves rough to the touch with leaf-collar to 3 mm. Leaf- sheath has ear-shaped lobe (auricle). Spreading large loose cluster of seedheads to 55 cm long.

Details
Flora Type
Grasses
Former Scientific Name
Stipa fusiformis
Distinctive Features

Tall grass resembling an oat. Seeds are covered in long silky golden to red-brown hairs, and a bristle or awn that is up to 9 cm long, kinked twice.
Biology

Perennial. Found on heavy alluvial soils west of the Great Dividing Range from southern Qld to Vic. 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

Sep-Jan
Taxonomy
Phylum
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)
Class
Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants)
Order
Poales
Family
Poaceae
Genus
Austrostipa
Species
aristiglumis

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

Awns (bristles on seeds) are important identification features for Spear-grass species. They spread by catching onto animals.

Interesting Facts
Native Status
Native