Stipa tuckeri

HABIT Perennial. Culms 20–30 cm long; wiry. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 3 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 2–4.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; deciduous as a whole.

Panicle open; 8–12 cm long. Primary panicle branches spreading; whorled at most nodes; 4–5 cm long. Panicle branches pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus brief; pubescent; unequally 2-toothed.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 8 mm long; membranous; purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface tuberculate; pubescent; hairy below. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 30–35 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn glabrous. Palea 1 mm long; 0.2 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.