Stipa drummondii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–60 cm long; compressible. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths loose; smooth, or antrorsely scabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–4 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades involute; 1–2 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

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

Panicle open; 15–30 cm long. Panicle branches smooth, or scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2–6 mm long; tip widened.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1.5 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; dissimilar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 9 mm long; 1.2 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner above; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex entire, or dentate; 2–3 -fid; obtuse. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–8 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 5 mm long; cartilaginous; dark brown; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma hairs white. Lemma apex emarginate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate; 45–60 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb pubescent. Column of lemma awn 13 mm long; hirtellous. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anther tip penicillate. 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.