Stipa henrardiana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 15–20 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 5–7 mm long; acuminate. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 5–10 cm long; 0.3–0.4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 8–15 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; 3–5 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches 2 -nate; bearing 1–3 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle axis pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 5.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.5 mm long; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 5.5 mm long; membranous; purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute; mucronate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 4 mm long; chartaceous; grey; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma hairs 1–1.5 mm long. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn curved; 3–3.5 mm long overall; deciduous; limb puberulous; glabrescent towards tip. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface pilose.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5–2 mm long; anther tip smooth. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Parodi 1995.

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