Piptatherum wallowense

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 10–45 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or puberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades erect; involute; 5–10 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 6.3–14.8 cm long. Primary panicle branches drooping.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels curved.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets oblong; dorsally compressed; 3.5–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 3.5–7 mm long; 1.1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume oblong; 3–6.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; dorsally compressed; 3–3.5 mm long; 1–1.5 mm wide; coriaceous; dark brown, or black; without keel. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma margins involute; exposing palea. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 8–11 mm long overall; deciduous. Palea 1 length of lemma.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 2 mm long; pallid.

DISTRIBUTION North America: northwest USA.

NOTES Stipeae. Maze & Robson 2004.

Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.