Austrostipa nitida

Austrostipa nitida is a perennial tussock-forming grass in the Poaceae family, endemic to inland southern Australia where it occurs on calcareous, sandy, and stony soils of semi-arid plains and woodlands. Plants form dense, narrow tufts typically 30 to 80 centimetres tall, with fine, inrolled, glaucous to bright green leaves arising from a hard basal crown. The inflorescence is a slender open panicle bearing single-flowered spikelets, each enclosed by smooth, shining glumes that give the species its specific epithet meaning shining. The lemma is hardened and bears a bent, twice-geniculate awn that twists hygroscopically and assists in self-burial of the diaspore. Flowering occurs chiefly in spring after winter rains. Like other speargrasses, the species is wind-pollinated and reproduces sexually by seed.