Stipa aphylla

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; slender; 50–90 cm long; 0.5–1 mm diam.; 3–4 -noded. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths deciduous; 0.4–1.8 cm long; glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.1 mm long. Leaf-blades deciduous at the ligule (when inflorescence emerges); involute; 2–4.5 cm long; 1 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 30 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 17 cm long; 3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed. Panicle axis scaberulous. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 10–20 mm long; tip widened.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 13.5–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1.6–2.5 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume linear; 13.5–15 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume linear; 12.5–15 mm long; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 8–11 mm long; coriaceous; dark brown; without keel. Lemma surface tuberculate; pubescent. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 60–70 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb puberulous. Column of lemma awn 40–51 mm long; puberulous. Palea 5.2–7 mm long; 0.8 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface puberulous.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; 1.5 mm long. Anthers 3; 2.5–5.1 mm long; anther tip smooth. Stigmas 2. Styles free to the base.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Stipeae. Townrow 1994.

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