Stipa puberula

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–50 cm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or puberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; dense; 15–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; recurved at apex. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of upper glume; chartaceous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse, or acute. Upper glume ovate; 10 mm long; membranous; firmer above; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 6 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel. Lemma surface tuberculate; pubescent. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 30 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 8 mm long; glabrous. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anther tip penicillate. Stigmas 2.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl W Austral 1994.

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