Stipa saxicola

HABIT Perennial. Culms slender; 60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 10–20 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; bracteate at branch bases (2–3mm).

Panicle open; elliptic; 10 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2 -nate; bearing 1–2 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches flexuous; scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 25–30 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; bearded (tawny); pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 25–30 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 25–30 mm long; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 15 mm long; coriaceous; light brown; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; with conspicuous apical hairs (scanty). Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 70–85 mm long overall; with twisted column. Middle segment of lemma awn 15–20 mm long; pubescent. Column of lemma awn 20–30 mm long; pubescent. Palea without keels.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Stipeae. Hitchcock 2002.

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