Stipa pubescens

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 80–150 cm long; 1–4 mm diam.; firm; 2–3 -noded. Culm-internodes terete; distally pubescent. Culm-nodes swollen; pubescent. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths tight; glabrous on surface, or pubescent; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane, or a ciliolate membrane; 0.4–1 mm long; scarious; truncate. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 25–50 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; pubescent; hairy adaxially, or on both sides. Leaf-blade apex hardened.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; 15–30 cm long; 2–4 cm wide. Primary panicle branches branching laterally; 3–7 cm long. Panicle axis scabrous. Panicle branches angular; scabrous; glabrous, or pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels angular; 10–30 mm long; scabrous; glabrous to pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 17–24 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; curved; 3–4.5 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear; 17–24 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume surface pubescent; hairy generally, or on veins. Lower glume margins ciliate. Lower glume apex truncate. Upper glume linear; 15–20 mm long; membranous; purple; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface pubescent; hairy generally, or on veins. Upper glume margins ciliate. Upper glume apex truncate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 11–15 mm long; coriaceous; dark brown; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface tuberculate; rough above; pilose. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma hairs tawny. Lemma apex with a short cylindrical neck; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 70–100 mm long overall; with twisted column. Middle segment of lemma awn 10–15 mm long. Column of lemma awn 30–55 mm long; puberulous; with 0.05–0.15 mm long hairs. Palea 0.6 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface glabrous.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; 1–2 mm long. Anthers 3; 2–6 mm long; anther tip smooth. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 5–8 mm long. Embryo 0.15–0.2 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear; 0.9 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.