Stipa aquilana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–50 cm long. Leaf-sheaths puberulous. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–5 mm long; 0.5–1.5 mm long on basal shoots. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acute.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 5–8 fertile spikelets.

Panicle contracted; linear.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 50–60 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 50–60 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 50–70 mm long; 3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 15–20 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliate. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate; 160–230 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb plumose; with 4–5 mm long hairs. Column of lemma awn ciliate; with 4 mm long hairs.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 15–20 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southeastern.

NOTES Stipeae. Moraldo 2005.

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