Stipa pogonathera

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 35–100 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pilose. Culm-nodes glabrous. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 1–3 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 10–20 cm long; 0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle open; elliptic; 10–30 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2–10 mm long; pubescent; hairy above.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 17–22 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.8–1.1 mm long; glabrous; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 17–22 mm long; 1.3 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 13–17 mm long; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 8–13 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn curved; 60–110 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb ciliate; glabrescent towards tip. Column of lemma awn 10–20 mm long; glabrous. Palea 0.6–0.8 mm long; 0.66 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface glabrous, or puberulous.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; 1.5 mm long. Anthers 3; anther tip smooth. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Matthei 1995.

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