Stipa multispiculis

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms geniculately ascending; 50–70 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths loose; pubescent. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; 20–40 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; effuse; 20–30 cm long; 3–6 cm wide. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 10–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1–2 mm long; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 10–12 mm long; 1.2 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 8–10 mm long; hyaline; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 6–8 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma hairs white. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 18–25 mm long. Palea 1 length of lemma; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Stipeae. Black 1997.

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