Stipa frigida

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 15–30 cm long; 2 -noded. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–5 mm long; pubescent on abaxial surface. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 5–20 cm long; 0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; shorter than basal leaves.

Panicle open; linear; 2–6 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 16–24 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 1 mm long; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 16–24 mm long; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 5–8 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy all along. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate; 12–20 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 7–10 mm long; plumose; with 5–6 mm long hairs. Palea 4–7 mm long; 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface pubescent.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 4 mm long. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America and southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Matthei 1995.

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