Stipa eremophila

HABIT Perennial; culms solitary. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 60–100 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane, or a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades convolute; 25–55 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pubescent. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open, or contracted; linear; 15–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches 4–9 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2–8 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 13–17 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner above; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 13–17 mm long; membranous; with hyaline margins; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 10 mm long; cartilaginous; dark brown; without keel. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma hairs tawny. Lemma apex emarginate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate; 65–70 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 25–30 mm long; puberulous. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. 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.