Stipa academica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 20–40 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; 0.5–1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; dense; 7–15 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches appressed; 3–4 cm long; bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches scabrous; bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 4–8 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 7.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus brief; pubescent; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 7.5 mm long; 1.1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume primary vein ciliolate. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume surface puberulous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 7 mm long; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein ciliolate. Upper glume surface puberulous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 4 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; with conspicuous apical hairs. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight; 4 mm long overall.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Mez 1997.

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