Stipa hemipogon

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; robust; 40–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths smooth, or scaberulous. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades erect; convolute; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or hispid.

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

Panicle open; oblong; 15–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed; 5–10 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets sessile, or pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 12–17 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 2.5 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 12–17 mm long; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 6.5–8.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface tuberculate; pubescent. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 45–67 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb plumose. Column of lemma awn 10–12 mm long; plumose; hairy generally, or on lower part. 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.