Yellow Spear-grass

Images ©:
©Mark Wapstra, Mark Wapstra

Austrostipa flavescens

Tufted erect rhizomatous grass with flowering stems to 1.2 m. Flat or inrolled leaves to 70 cm long, hairless or with stiff downy hairs. Leaf- sheath has thickened ear-shaped lobes (auricle) Short translucent leaf-collar (ligule). Seedhead is a dense slender cluster to 30 cm long with few branches.

Details
Flora Type
Grasses
Former Scientific Name
Stipa flavescens
Distinctive Features

Dense greenish clustered flowerhead. Seeds are purplish, drying to dark brown or black and lightly covered with golden or coppery hairs, and a bristle or awn 40-70 mm long, kinked twice.
Biology

Perennial. Common on coastal situations, also limestone and basalt 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

Oct-Dec
Taxonomy
Phylum
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)
Class
Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants)
Order
Poales
Family
Poaceae
Genus
Austrostipa
Species
flavescens

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