Stipa semperiana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 20–50 cm long; 1.5–2 mm diam. Culm-internodes distally pubescent. Culm-nodes black; glabrous. Leaf-sheaths outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–4 mm long; hyaline. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; densely hairy; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins ciliate. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 20–25 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; oblong; 8–10 cm long; 3–5 cm wide; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 29–32 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 2 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 29–32 mm long; 1.1 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 27–28 mm long; 2.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear to lanceolate; subterete; 10–13 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. 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; 5–75 mm long overall; with 40–55 mm long limb; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 16–20 mm long; plumose; with 5–6 mm long hairs. Palea 5–6 mm long; 0.6 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; yellow; anther tip smooth. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. 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.