Stipa plumigera

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms 30–55 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths puberulous. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades 15–35 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; densely hairy; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; 10–20 cm long. Panicle axis scaberulous. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–5 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 3 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 20 mm long; 1.3 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner above; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 15 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 8 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma hairs tawny. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 90 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb pubescent; with 1–1.5 mm long hairs. Column of lemma awn hirtellous; with 1–1.5 mm long hairs. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Anther tip smooth. Stigmas 2.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Stipeae. Hughes 1994.

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