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.