Stipa atlantica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Culm-internodes distally pubescent. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 3–10 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough abaxially; puberulous; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 4–6 fertile spikelets; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath. Peduncle pubescent above.

Panicle open, or contracted; linear, or lanceolate; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 30–70 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume lanceolate; 30–70 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 19–21 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy on veins; without hair tufts, or with conspicuous apical hairs. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea; pubescent. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 260–300 mm long overall; with 190–220 mm long limb; with twisted column; limb plumose; with 3–5 mm long hairs. Column of lemma awn glabrous. Palea 2 -veined; without keels.

FRUIT Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: north.

NOTES Stipeae. Smirnov 2006.

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