Stipa milleana

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 50–100 cm long; 3–6 -noded. Culm-internodes distally pubescent. Leaf-sheaths smooth, or retrorsely scabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Collar pubescent. Leaf-blades 30–40 cm long; 4–8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface puberulous; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; interrupted; dense; 20–40 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending; 2–5 cm long. Panicle axis smooth.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus brief; 0.3 mm long; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scaberulous. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 6 mm long; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 2 mm long; membranous; mid-green, or light brown; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma hairs 1 mm long. Lemma apex emarginate; surmounted by a ring of hairs; with this appendage 2–3 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate; 10–13 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 0.8 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. 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. Hitchcock 1995.

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