Supple Spear-grass
Austrostipa mollis
Tall tufted grass with flower stems to 1.2 m tall. Stem joints (nodes) are velvety hairy. Leaf-blade weekly or strongly inrolled and up to 30 cm long. Short hairy leaf-collar (ligule). Dense fluffy seedheads 30 cm. Seeds are purplish or green, becoming pale or reddish brown on maturity, and covered with golden or white hairs. Bristle or awn to 70 mm long, bent twice and covered in feathery hairs.
| Details | |
|---|---|
| Flora Type | Grasses |
| Former Scientific Name | Stipa mollis |
| Distinctive Features | The long bristle (awn) is tightly coiled, feathery and appears to spiral. |
| Biology | Perennial.Wide variety of soils except basalt. 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-Dec |
| Taxonomy | |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants) |
| Class | Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants) |
| Order | Poales |
| Family | Poaceae |
| Genus | Austrostipa |
| Species | mollis |
The large seedheads make this an attractive garden plant. 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 | Similar to Austrostipa stuposa _ both have a feathery awn on the seed. |
| Native Status | Native |