Stipa juncifolia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Cataphylls evident. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; reed-like; 60–100 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 5–7 mm long. Leaf-blades erect; aciculate; convolute; 30–60 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 16–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2–6 cm long; bearing 6–10 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2–6 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1.5 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 9 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; light brown; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 9 mm long; membranous; light brown; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 7 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma hairs white; 1–2 mm long. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; with lobes 1.2–2 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 50 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 10 mm long; puberulous. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface pilose.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anther tip penicillate. 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.