Stipa latiglumis

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; slender; 50–110 cm long. Culm-internodes distally pubescent. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–4 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 15–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches distant; 5–10 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 13–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 1 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, or acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 25–40 mm long; membranous; purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 8–9 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 35–45 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn ciliate. Palea 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southwest USA.

NOTES Stipeae. N Amer Fl 1994.

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