Stipa illimanica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms geniculately ascending; 25 cm long; 5–6 -noded. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths scaberulous; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.7 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades filiform; flat, or conduplicate; 10–18 cm long; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.

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

Panicle open; linear; 14 cm long. Primary panicle branches 3 -nate.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus brief; 0.5 mm long; pubescent; unequally 2-toothed.

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; 6 mm long; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 4–4.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate; 30 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Palea 1–1.5 mm long; 0.5 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface pubescent.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long; anther tip penicillate. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Hack 1995.

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