Family:

Poaceae

Austrostipa species

Spear Grasses

(syn. Stipa species)

Other Names:

Regional Subspecies:

Occurrence:

Regional:

Widespread and common throughout region.

Habitat & Site Selection:

Temperate regions.

Habit:

Generally coarsely tufted perennial grasses up to about 1 m high. Leaves rough to touch. Seed with long awns and ‘corkscrew’ twists.

Similar Species:

Species in the region include: Crested speargrass — A. blackii; Foxtail speargrass — densiflora; Feather speargrass — A. elegantissima; Soft speargrass — A. mollis; Speargrass — nodosa; Rough speargrass — A. scabra subsp. falcata; and Corkscrew grass — A. setacea.

Seed Collection:

Collect when hard, dark seeds part from heads easily. Monitor closely as mature seeds quickly shed.

Propagation:

From one-year old seed. Store in cool dry place. Sow autumn or spring.

VALUES:

Wildlife:

Good habitat. Food for seed-eating birds, such as finches. Moths and butterflies attracted.

Ornamental:

Very attractive ornamental for specimens, groundcovers, rockeries and under trees. Rejuvenate old plants by pruning severely, and watering afterwards to encourage growth.

Other:

Moderate forage. Sharp awns cause eye, wool and carcass contamination. Problems potentially overcome through managing grazing.