Stipa metatoris

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Cataphylls evident. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 1.5–2.5 mm diam.; 2–3 -noded. Culm-internodes terete; distally glabrous, or pubescent. Culm-nodes swollen; pubescent. Leaves basal and cauline. Leaf-sheaths tight; pubescent, or hirsute; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2.2 mm long; pilose on abaxial surface; lacerate; truncate, or obtuse, or acute. Leaf-blades involute; 20–40 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; grooved adaxially; pubescent and hirsute; hairy on both sides.

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

Panicle open; elliptic; 15–25 cm long; 3–6 cm wide. Primary panicle branches spreading; 5–10 cm long. Panicle axis scaberulous; glabrous, or puberulous. Panicle branches scaberulous; glabrous, or puberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 5–10 mm long; scaberulous; glabrous, or puberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 16–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 2–2.8 mm long; pilose; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 16–20 mm long; 1.3 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner above; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface smooth, or asperulous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 10–15 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous; rough on veins. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong, or oblanceolate; subterete; 7–8.2 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface hirsute. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; with lobes 0.2–0.5 mm long; surmounted by a ring of hairs; with this appendage 2.5–3.5 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; bigeniculate; 55–65 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb glabrous, or puberulous; with 0.2–0.3 mm long hairs. Middle segment of lemma awn 9–12 mm long. Column of lemma awn 11–13 mm long; puberulous; with 0.2–0.3 mm long hairs. Palea 0.9 length of lemma; without keels. Palea surface puberulous; hairy on back. Palea apex ciliate.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; 1.5–2 mm long. Anthers 3; 1.2–4 mm long; anther tip penicillate. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 3.5–4.5 mm long. Embryo 0.3–0.4 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear; 0.75 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Stipeae. Everett & Jacobs 1997.

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