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Descriptions

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

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

Stipa tenacissima

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms 60–150(–200) cm long. Leaf-sheath oral hairs woolly. Leaf-sheath auricles erect; 10–12 mm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades convolute; 30–120 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with continuous uniform subepidermal sclerenchyma layer on the underside. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex hardened.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle antrorsely scabrous above.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; 25–35 cm long. Primary panicle branches 3–6 -nate. Panicle branches scaberulous; bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 25–30 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1–1.5 mm long; pilose; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 25–30 mm long; 1.1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 22–25 mm long; 2.5–3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 10 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface villous. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; curved; 40–60 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 20–25 mm long; hirsute; with 4–6 mm long hairs. Palea linear; 1 length of lemma; scarious; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface villous. Palea apex acuminate.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; membranous. Anthers 3; 10–15 mm long; anther tip penicillate. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; 7–8 mm long. Embryo 0.15 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern. Africa: north and Macaronesia.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Afr N.

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