Stipa leptostachya

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–50 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 5–20 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

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

Panicle spiciform; linear; 5–20 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 5.5–6.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus brief; 0.2 mm long; glabrous, or sparsely hairy; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 4.5–5.5 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume linear; 5.5–6.5 mm long; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 3.5–4 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; with conspicuous apical hairs. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma hairs 2.5 mm long. Lemma apex surmounted by a ring of hairs; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 20–25 mm long overall; with twisted column; deciduous. Palea 0.8 mm long; 0.5 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface puberulous.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.6 mm long. Anthers 1, or 3; anther tip smooth. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 2–2.5 mm long. Hilum linear; 0.5 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America and southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Matthei 1995.

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