Tall Spear-grass

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©Tindo2 via flickr CC2.0,Tindo2 via flickr CC2.0

Austrostipa pubinodis

Tufted grass with flower stems to 1.3 m tall. Stem joints (nodes) have dense soft hairs. Leaves inrolled up to 40 cm long. Open seedheads to 50 cm. Seeds are purplish or green, drying to brown and covered with white to tawny hairs on the lower half.

Details
Flora Type
Grasses
Former Scientific Name
Stipa pubinodis
Distinctive Features

Bristle or awn is long (to 95 mm), bent twice.
Biology

Perennial. Sandy 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

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

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
Native Status
Native