Stipa juncea

HABIT Perennial. Culms 40–80 cm long. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 4.5–5.5 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface puberulous; densely hairy; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear, or lanceolate; 8–15 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 14–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; pilose; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 14–20 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 10–13 mm long; coriaceous; light brown; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea; ciliate; hairy below. Lemma apex surmounted by a ring of hairs; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 90–110 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb hirsute. Column of lemma awn hirsute; with 0.4–0.6 mm long hairs. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern and southeastern.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Eur 1995.

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