Stipa curvifolia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Butt sheaths pubescent. Culms erect; 35 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades curved; filiform; involute; 10–15 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 7–8 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 10 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. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner above; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 10 mm long; hyaline; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 5.5 mm long; coriaceous; light brown; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma hairs white. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate, or bigeniculate; 22–25 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn hirsute. Palea 2 -veined; without keels.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION North America: south-central USA.

NOTES Stipeae. Man US Gr 1997.

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