A spear-grass - profile

Indicative distribution

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Key:

known

predicted

The areas shown in pink and/purple are the sub-regions where the species or community is known or predicted to occur. They may not occur thoughout the sub-region but may be restricted to certain areas. ( click here to see geographic restrictions). The information presented in this map is only indicative and may contain errors and omissions.

Scientific name: Austrostipa metatoris

Conservation status in NSW: Vulnerable

Commonwealth status: Vulnerable

Profile last updated: 18 Oct 2022

Description

Austrostipa metatoris is a perennial spear-grass that grows in tussocks to one metre tall. The leaves are tightly rolled, 2 - 4 mm wide, and strongly ribbed. The leaves are densely hairy on the upper surface and the margins are rough. The flower-heads are spreading and branched, 15 - 25 cm long and comprise numerous spikelets 16 - 20 mm long (excluding the awns). The awn (bristle) is weakly twice-bent and 5.5 - 6.5 cm long. Identification of Austrostipa species can be difficult, with separation from the closely related A. eremophila based on fine details of the coma, lemma and awn.

Distribution

Most records occur in the Murray Valley with sites including Cunninyeuk Station, Stony Crossing, Kyalite State Forest (now part of Murrumbidgee Valley Regional Park) and Lake Benanee. Scattered records also occur in central NSW including Lake Cargelligo, east of Goolgowi, Condobolin and south west of Nymagee. Otherwise only known from near Bordertown in south east South Australia, where it may be locally extinct.

Habitat and ecology

Grows in sandy areas of the Murray Valley; habitats include sandhills, sandridges, undulating plains and flat open mallee country, with red to red-brown clay-loam to sandy-loam soils.
Associated species include Eucalyptus populnea, E. intertexta, Callitris glaucophylla, Casuarina cristata, Santalum acuminatum and Dodonaea viscosa.
Flowers in response to rain.
It is not known if fire plays a role in the ecology of this species although most species of Austrostipa provide an abundance of highly flammable ephemeral fuel in periods following above-average rainfall.
Recorded in populations as locally frequent or dominant only in scattered patches.

Regional distribution and habitat

Click on a region below to view detailed distribution, habitat and vegetation information.

Threats

Grazing; total grazing pressure has increased with higher numbers of rabbits, domestic stock and kangaroos.
Habitat degradation; sandy habitats are threatened by rabbits and the impacts of stock.
Drought; as the species is rainfall-dependant, the flowering season is affected by drought or prolonged dry periods.
Insufficient understanding of distribution.

Recovery strategies

A Saving Our Species conservation project is currently being developed for this species and will be available soon. For information on how you can contribute to this species' recovery, see the Activities to assist this species section below.

Activities to assist this species

Protect from all herbivores by using exclusion fencing and undertaking rabbit control.
Annual monitoring of fenced areas to determine the influence of different grazing animals.
Conduct ecological research into specific germination and disturbance requirements and limitations.
Survey for new populations and determine population size at known sites.

Information sources

Briggs, J.D. and Leigh, J.H. (1996) Rare or Threatened Australian Plants. Revised Edition. (CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne)
Everett, J. and Jacobs, S.W.L. (1983) Studies in Australian Stipa (Poaceae). Telopea 2(4): 391-400
Jacobs, S.W.L. and Everett, J. (1993) Stipa. Pp. 639-650 in Harden, G.J. (ed.) Flora of New South Wales. Volume 4. (New South Wales University Press, Sydney)
Jacobs, S.W.L. and Everett, J. (1996) Austrostipa, a new genus, and new names for Australian species formerly included in Stipa (Gramineae). Telopea 6(4): 579-595
Murray Catchment Management Authority and Office of Environment and Heritage (2012) New South Wales Murray Biodiversity Management Plan: A guide to terrestrial biodiversity investment priorities in the central and eastern NSW Murray catchment. (Murray CMA, Albury)
Porteners, M. and Robertson, G. (2003) Threatened Plants in Western New South Wales: Information Review. (NSW NPWS, Hurstville)
Pressey, R.L., Cohn, J.S. and Porter, J.L. (1990) Vascular plants with restricted distributions in the Western Division of New South Wales. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 112: 213-227
Vickery, J.W., Jacobs, S.W.L. and Everett, J. (1986) Taxonomic studies in Stipa (Poaceae) in Australia. Telopea 3(1): 1-132

IBRA Bioregion	IBRA Subregion	Known or predicted	Geographic restrictions region

Cobar Peneplain	Barnato Downs	Known	None
Cobar Peneplain	Lachlan Plains	Known	None
Murray Darling Depression	Darling Depression	Predicted	None
Murray Darling Depression	South Olary Plain	Known	None
NSW South Western Slopes	Lower Slopes	Known	None
Riverina	Murray Fans	Known	West of Deniliquin
Riverina	Robinvale Plains	Known	None

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