GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora

Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Stipa ruizlealii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 25–30 cm long. Culm-internodes distally pubescent. Culm-nodes constricted; brown; glabrous. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long; hyaline. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 1 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface puberulous; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 8–15 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; oblong; 6–9 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 15–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; curved; 2–3 mm long; bearded; acute.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 15–20 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; much thinner above; much thinner on margins; purple; without keels. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 15–20 mm long; 1.5–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; much thinner above; with hyaline margins; purple; without keels. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear to lanceolate; subterete; 10–11 mm long; coriaceous; light brown; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; surmounted by a ring of hairs; with this appendage 3–4 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 22–33 mm long overall; with 11–19 mm long limb; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 11–14 mm long; plumose; with 5–6 mm long hairs. Palea 9–10 mm long; 0.9 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; purple. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 9 mm long. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Roig 2005.

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