Desert Spear-grass

Images ©:
©Adrian Shackley, South Australian Seed Conservation Centre

Austrostipa eremophila

Perennial tufted grass with branched flower stems to 90 cm. Stem joints (nodes) have dense silky hairs. Tightly inrolled leaves to 30 cm long. Stiff erect leaf-collar (ligule) to 2 mm. Seedhead a slender dense cluster to 30 cm in size.

Details
Flora Type
Grasses
Former Scientific Name
Stipa eremophila
Distinctive Features

Seeds purplish maturing to a deep golden brown and covered in short golden hairs, with a sturdy bristle or awn 5-10 cm long, kinked twice.
Biology

Perennial. Deep sandy soils, often in association with mallee and semi-arid regions. 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-Nov
Taxonomy
Phylum
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)
Class
Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants)
Order
Poales
Family
Poaceae
Genus
Austrostipa
Species
eremophila

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

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
Similar Species

0
Native Status
Native