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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 pilata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths pubescent. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 40–85 cm long; 0.8–1 mm diam.; firm; 2–3 -noded. Culm-internodes distally pubescent. Culm-nodes swollen; glabrous, or pubescent. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths tight; mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface, or pubescent; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate; 1–2 mm long. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 1–2 mm long; pubescent on abaxial surface; entire, or lacerate; truncate. Leaf-blades involute; 6–12 cm long; 2–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; scabrous; rough abaxially; pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex pungent; hardened.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 10–20 cm long; 2–3 cm wide. Panicle axis smooth, or scaberulous. Panicle branches smooth, or scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels flattened; 4–8 mm long; smooth, or scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 8–10 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; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 8–10 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–9 mm long; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 4–5 mm long; cartilaginous; dark brown; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex surmounted by a ring of hairs (in 1–2 tufts); awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn curved; recurved at base of limb; 40–50 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 7–11 mm long; pubescent; with 0.2–0.5 mm long hairs. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 1–1.5 mm long. Anthers 3; anther tip penicillate. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 2.7–3 mm long. Embryo 0.33 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear; 0.66 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Stipeae. Vickery etc 1994.

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