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Grasses

Elegant spear-grass | Austrostipa elegantissima
Austrostipa elegantissima

Elegant spear-grass

Austrostipa elegantissima

Description.
Many-branched perennial grass. Foliage is highly palatable but sparse and the plant is often inconspicuous when not in flower. This species is most easily identified from its inflorescence, which is a large (to 20 centimetres), open, irregularly branched panicle with a dense covering of hairs, which give the plant a distinctive bluish or purplish gleam in sunlight. As with other spear grasses, the small, pointy seeds have a long awn with a conspicuous bend in it. The panicles detach at maturity and are dispersed by wind.
Propagation.
Germinates well from untreated seed.
Flowering.
Seems to favour spring and summer, but will often flower in response to rain.
Locations.
Scattered by roadsides west of Wagga. Has mostly disappeared from grazing areas. A large population occurs along Junee Reefs Rd.

Based on the flora of the Graham Centre Biodiversity Nursery

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