Derivation
Austrostipa S.W.L.Jacobs & J.Everett, Telopea 6: 582 (1996); from the Latin austro (south or southern) and Stipa (the name of a related genus), referring to the Australian distribution of the species.

pilata- from the Latin pilus (hair) and -ata (possessing). With long hairs on the leaf-blades or spikelets.

Published in
Telopea 6: 587 (1996).

Common synonyms
Stipa pilata S.W.L.Jacobs & Everett

Habit
Perennial, tufted. Basal leaf sheaths pubescent. Young shoots extravaginal. Culms erect, 40–85 cm tall, 0.8–1 mm diam., firm, 2–3-noded. Mid-culm internodes pubescent. Mid-culm nodes swollen, glabrous or pubescent. Lateral branches simple. Leaf-sheaths tight, mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode, glabrous on surface or pubescent. Leaf-sheaths outer margin hairy. Ligule a fringed membrane, 1–2 mm long, membranous, entire or lacerate, truncate. Leaf-blades involute, 6–12 cm long, 0.8–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed, scabrous, pubescent. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

Inflorescence
Inflorescence compound, a panicle, exserted. Panicle contracted, linear, 10–20 cm long, 2–3 cm wide. Panicle axis smooth or scaberulous. Panicle branches smooth or scaberulous.

Spikelets
Spikelets solitary. Pedicels flattened, 4–8 mm long, smooth or scaberulous. Fertile spikelets 1-flowered, comprising 1 fertile floret, without rhachilla extension, linear, terete, 8–10 mm long, breaking up at maturity. Spikelets disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated, 1–1.5 mm long, pubescent, acute.

Glumes
Glumes persistent, similar, subequal in width, thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, 8–10 mm long, equalling upper glume, membranous, 3-nerved. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate, 7–9 mm long, membranous, 3-nerved. Upper glume apex acute or acuminate.

Florets
Fertile lemma linear, subterete, 4–5 mm long, coriaceous, dark brown, 5-nerved. Lemma surface papillose or tuberculate, pubescent. Lemma margins convolute, covering most of palea. Lemma apex entire, surmounted by a distinct coma of hairs (in 1–2 tufts), with this appendage 1 mm long, 1-awned. Median (principal) awn geniculate, recurved at base of limb, 40–50 mm long overall, with a twisted column. Column 7–11 mm long, pubescent, with 0.2–0.5 mm long hairs. Palea 75% of length of lemma, 2-nerved, without keels. Palea surface pubescent, hairy on back. Lodicules 2, 1–1.5 mm long. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2. Grain with adherent pericarp, 2.7–3 mm long. Embryo 33% of length of grain. Hilum linear, 66% of length of caryopsis.

Continental Distribution:
Australasia.

Australian Distribution:
South Australia, Victoria.

South Australia: Flinders Ranges, Northern Lofty, Murray. Victoria: Murray Mallee.

Classification. (GPWG 2001):
Pooideae: Stipeae

Notes
Native. Flinders Ranges, Northern Lofty and Murray Regions of South Australia, and in north-western Victoria.
The pungent leaf blades are notable.