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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Stipa blakei

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rootstock evident. Butt sheaths pubescent. Culms 30–100 cm long; 1–2 mm diam.; 2–4 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pubescent. Culm-nodes swollen; glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or puberulous; outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs scanty, or lacking. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 1–2.5 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades involute; 15–28 cm long; 1.5–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; pubescent; hairy abaxially, or on both sides. Leaf-blade apex hardened.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 20–35 cm long; 2–3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 3–6 cm long. Panicle axis glabrous, or puberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels flattened; 7–25 mm long; scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 14–18 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; straight; 2.5–3 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 14–18 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 13–17 mm long; hyaline; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 7–8 mm long; cartilaginous; dark brown; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface papillose; puberulous. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; with lobes 0.1–0.2 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; curved; recurved at base of limb; 70–100 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 9–13 mm long; pubescent; with 0.2–0.3 mm long hairs. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface puberulous; hairy on back.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; 2 mm long. Anthers 3; 3 mm long; anther tip penicillate. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 4.5 mm long. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Stipeae. Vickery etc 1994.

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