GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

Descriptions

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

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

Stipa nullarborensis

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms 50–100 cm long; 1(–3) mm diam.; 4–5 -noded. Culm-internodes smooth to antrorsely scabrous. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking, or sparse. Leaf-sheaths smooth to antrorsely scabrous; glabrous on surface to pubescent. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades 10–25 cm long; 2–5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 15–30 cm long; 1.5–3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 2–8 cm long. Panicle axis smooth, or scaberulous. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–7 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 4–5.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; curved; 0.5–0.8 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 4–5.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface hispidulous. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 4–5.5 mm long; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface hispidulous. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 3–4 mm long; coriaceous; dark brown; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface granulose; pilose. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex entire, or dentate; 2 -fid; with lobes 0.1 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn apical, or from a sinus; bigeniculate; 20–30 mm long overall; with twisted column. Middle segment of lemma awn 4–5 mm long. Column of lemma awn 5–8 mm long. Palea 0.8 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface pilose.

FLOWER Lodicules 2, or 3. Anthers 3; 1.5–1.7 mm long; anther tip penicillate. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Stipeae. Vickery etc 1994.

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