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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Stipa mollis

HABIT Perennial; short-lived; culms solitary, or caespitose. Culms erect; 30–150 cm long; 1–3.5 mm diam.; 3–6 -noded. Culm-internodes distally pubescent. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths loose; pubescent; outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 1.2 mm long; pilose on abaxial surface. Leaf-blades involute; 15–45 cm long; 1.5–3 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; pubescent; densely hairy; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 14–28 cm long; 5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 3–7 cm long. Panicle axis scaberulous. Panicle branches bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 3–5 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 17.4–23 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 2.3–3.9 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 17.4–23 mm long; 1.1 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner above; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface puberulous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 18–21 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume surface puberulous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 6.6–10.5 mm long; cartilaginous; dark brown; without keel. Lemma surface tuberculate; rough above; pubescent. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma hairs tawny. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 45–65 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb ciliate. Column of lemma awn 16.5–32 mm long; hirsute; with 1–2 mm long hairs. Palea 5–6 mm long; 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface pubescent.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; 1.5 mm long. Anthers 3; 3.2–4.7 mm long; anther tip penicillate. Stigmas 2.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Stipeae. Townrow 1994.

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