Stipa tenuifolia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–60 cm long. Ligule a ciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; effuse; 15–30 cm long. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 15 mm long; 1.2–1.3 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 12 mm long; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 8 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn curved; 50–70 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 13 mm long; pubescent. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anther tip smooth. Stigmas 2.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl W Austral 1994.

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