Stipa neomexicana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 40–80 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1.4 mm long. Leaf-blades convolute; 10–30 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 3–8 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 30–50 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 4–5 mm long; pilose; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 30–50 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; pallid; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 30–50 mm long; 2–2.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; pallid; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 15–18 mm long; coriaceous; pallid; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous, or pubescent. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 120–180 mm long overall; with twisted column; persistent, or deciduous; limb hirsute; with 0.6–1.5 mm long hairs. Middle segment of lemma awn 10–20 mm long. Column of lemma awn 30–60 mm long; ciliate; hairy on the spiral. Palea 1 length of lemma; coriaceous (at tip); 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; anther tip smooth. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION North America: northwest USA, southwest USA, south-central USA, and Mexico.

NOTES Stipeae. Gr Texas 1994.

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