Stipa media

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–300 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches ample. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.2–2 mm long. Leaf-blades convolute; 10–20 cm long; 0.5–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed.

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

Panicle contracted; linear; 10–25 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 5–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus brief; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–6 mm long; 1.1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4.5–5.5 mm long; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 3–3.5 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; 25–30 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column; limb plumose; with 2–2.5 mm long hairs. Middle segment of lemma awn ciliate. Palea 1–1.4 mm long; without keels. Palea surface pubescent.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; 0.9–1.4 mm long. Anthers 3. 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: southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Caro 1997.

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