Stipa hoggarensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–70 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades convolute; 10–20 cm long; 3–7 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; exserted.

Panicle open; ovate; 15–22 cm long. Panicle branches pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; curved; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 15 mm long; 2 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein pubescent. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 7 mm long; 1.4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 4.5–6.7 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above; pilose. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 50–85 mm long overall; with twisted column; deciduous. Column of lemma awn hirtellous; with 0.7 mm long hairs. Palea 0.5 length of lemma; 0 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; 2.3–2.5 mm long; anther tip penicillate. Stigmas 2.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: north.

NOTES Stipeae. Chrtek & Martinovsky 2005.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Lemma tip dorsiventrally flattened

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