Stipa caudata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 55–100 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.3–0.5 mm long; pilose on abaxial surface; truncate. Leaf-blades straight, or curved; filiform, or linear; flat, or involute, or convolute; 25–70 cm long; 2–7 mm wide; firm. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially; glabrous. Leaf-blade margins ciliate; hairy at base. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; exserted, or embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle open; equilateral; 14–45 cm long; bearing many spikelets, or few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 5–11 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.5–1 mm long; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–11 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough on veins; glabrous, or pilose; hairy on veins. Lower glume margins eciliate, or ciliate. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 5–11 mm long; 1.5–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough on veins; glabrous, or pilose; hairy on veins. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 4–6 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy between veins. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex attenuate; surmounted by a ring of hairs; with this appendage 0.7–1 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 12–25 mm long overall; with 6–15 mm long limb; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Column of lemma awn 2–4 mm long; glabrous. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back (not exceeding tip).

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; 3–4 mm long; anther tip penicillate. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; obovoid; 3 mm long (x1–1.4mm). Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis.

CLEISTOGENES AND VIVIPARY Cleistogenes present; in lower sheaths.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia and New Zealand. South America: southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Torres 1994.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Style base persistent, eccentric.

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