Stipa macbridei

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 60–90 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 15–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 6–7.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus brief; 0.5 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; with lower wider than upper; 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; 6–7.5 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 4–5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy all along. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex with an annular corona; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 30–37 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn pubescent. Palea 0.6 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Gr Peru 1995.

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