Stipa macalpinei

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Butt sheaths pubescent. Culms erect; robust; 20–40 cm long; 1 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths striately veined; glabrous on surface, or pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 8–10 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; pungent.

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

Panicle contracted; 10–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches 4–8 cm long. Panicle axis scabrous. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 22 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 22 mm long; 1.6 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 14 mm long; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 7 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma hairs yellow. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 120–150 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 45 mm long; glabrous. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anther tip smooth. 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.