Stipa papposa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 25–80 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 2–18 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 4–12 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 6–9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1–1.5 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 4–5.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume linear; 4–5.5 mm long; 0.6–0.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels; 1 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 6–9 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface tuberculate; rough in lines; villous; hairy above. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma hairs 5–8 mm long. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate, or bigeniculate; 20–30 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea elliptic; 0.4 length of lemma; hyaline; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; oblanceolate; 1 mm long; membranous. Anthers 3; 3.5 mm long; anther tip smooth. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; linear; 4–5 mm long. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south. Australasia: Australia. South America: Brazil and southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. WDC.

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