Stipa geoffreyi

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 100–180 cm long; 2–4 mm diam.; 3 -noded. Culm-internodes terete; distally glabrous. Culm-nodes swollen. Leaf-sheaths loose; ribbed; smooth; puberulous; outer margin glabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 6–12 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades convolute; 50–100 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 30–40 cm long; 3–5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 6–12 cm long. Panicle axis glabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 3–13 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 10–16 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 2–3 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 12–15 mm long; membranous; yellow; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 12–16 mm long; membranous; yellow; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 9–12 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma hairs white; 1–1.5 mm long. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; with lobes 2.5 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; bigeniculate; 50–80 mm long overall; with twisted column. Middle segment of lemma awn 5–10 mm long. Column of lemma awn 5–10 mm long. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back. Palea apex dentate; 3–4 -fid.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 1–2 mm long. Stigmas 2.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Stipeae. WDC 2000.

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