Stipa crinita

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes absent, or short. Culms 50–80 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth, or scaberulous. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 20 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 1 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner above; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume lateral veins obscure. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 12 mm long; membranous; with hyaline margins; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 5 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; ascending (straight); 40 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 11 mm long; glabrous. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anther tip smooth. Stigmas 2.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl W Austral 1994.

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