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Descriptions

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

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

Stipa petraea

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms erect; 50–100 cm long; 1.5–2 mm diam.; 3–5 -noded. Culm-nodes swollen; pubescent. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin glabrous. Ligule a ciliate membrane; 0.1–1 mm long. Collar glabrous. Leaf-blades conduplicate, or involute; 25–50 cm long; 1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; scaberulous; rough adaxially; glabrous; hairless except near base.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; 25 cm long. Primary panicle branches 3–7 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 10–35 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 11–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1–1.5 mm long; pilose (tawny hairs); pungent. Floret callus hairs 0.3–0.8 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 11–15 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 6 -veined. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 11–13 mm long; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 7–9.5 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface smooth, or granulose; pilose. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma hairs tawny; 0.5–1.5 mm long. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lobes 1.5–2.5 mm long; surmounted by a ring of hairs; with this appendage 2.5 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; bigeniculate; 40–55 mm long overall; with twisted column. Middle segment of lemma awn 10 mm long. Column of lemma awn 10–15 mm long. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface pilose.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; 1–1.3 mm long. Anthers 3; 4.5–5 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.