Corkscrew Grass

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Austrostipa setacea

Tufted grass with flower stems to 80 cm tall. Stem joints (nodes) are hairless. Wavy leaves inrolled up to 30 cm long and mostly smooth and hairless. Short hairless leaf-collar (ligule) Loose seedheads 10-20 cm. Seeds are purplish or green, becoming black on maturity, and covered with spreading white hairs.

Details
Flora Type
Grasses
Former Scientific Name
Stipa setacea
Distinctive Features

Erect wavy leaves and small flowerheads. Bristle or awn is short relative to many other Spear-grasses. Hairy bristle or awn to 40 mm long, bent twice.
Biology

Perennial. Rocky sites. 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
setacea

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