Stipa comata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–70 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; (1.5–)3–5(–6) mm long; glabrous on abaxial surface, or pubescent on abaxial surface; lacerate; obtuse, or acute. Leaf-blades involute; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex hardened.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 7–20 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 15–25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 3–4 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 15–25 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 5–7 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 15–25 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 3–7 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 8–12 mm long; coriaceous; mid-green, or light brown; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy all along. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 120–150 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn pubescent. Palea 1 length of lemma; coriaceous (at tio); 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; 1.5 mm long. Anthers 3; anther tip penicillate. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Subarctic, western Canada, eastern Canada, northwest USA, north-central USA, northeast USA, southwest USA, and south-central USA.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Pac NW 1993.

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