Austrostipa variabilis
Encyclopedia
Austrostipa variabilis is a species of grass
that grows in southern parts of Australia.
, from the vicinity of the Swan River
. The species was not described, however, until 1921, when Dorothy Kate Hughes published it as Stipa variabilis. This was its name until 1996, when the Australian species of Stipa
were recognised as meriting their own genus. Thus Austrostipa
was erected, and this and other species transferred into it.
, but specimens have been recorded east across the nullarbor, and even beyond Adelaide
, South Australia
. It grows in a range of habitats, including dunes and granite outcrops, and tolerates a range of soils.
Grass
Grasses, or more technically graminoids, are monocotyledonous, usually herbaceous plants with narrow leaves growing from the base. They include the "true grasses", of the Poaceae family, as well as the sedges and the rushes . The true grasses include cereals, bamboo and the grasses of lawns ...
that grows in southern parts of Australia.
Description
It is a perennial tufted grass, from 15 centimetres to 80 centimetres in height. It has green or purple flowers.Taxonomy
The type specimen of this species was collected early in the 19th century by James DrummondJames Drummond (botanist)
James Drummond was a botanist and naturalist who was an early settler in Western Australia.-Early life:...
, from the vicinity of the Swan River
Swan River (Western Australia)
The Swan River estuary flows through the city of Perth, in the south west of Western Australia. Its lower reaches are relatively wide and deep, with few constrictions, while the upper reaches are usually quite narrow and shallow....
. The species was not described, however, until 1921, when Dorothy Kate Hughes published it as Stipa variabilis. This was its name until 1996, when the Australian species of Stipa
Stipa
This article is about a type of grass.For Speech Transmission Index for Public Address Systems, see Speech transmission index.For the Italian aircraft designer, see Luigi Stipa...
were recognised as meriting their own genus. Thus Austrostipa
Austrostipa
Austrostipa is a genus of grass, with about 70 species.The genus includes Australasian species formerly included in the genus Stipa.Species include:*Austrostipa crinita...
was erected, and this and other species transferred into it.
Distribution and habitat
It is native to southern Australia. It is most common in the Southwest Botanical Province of Western AustraliaWestern Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, but specimens have been recorded east across the nullarbor, and even beyond Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. It grows in a range of habitats, including dunes and granite outcrops, and tolerates a range of soils.