Stipa vargasii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 35–45 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; 10–15 cm long; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 12–16 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 7.5–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pilose; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; without keels. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 7.5–8 mm long; membranous; purple; without keels. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 6–7 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein ciliolate; hairy below. Lemma surface with conspicuous apical hairs. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma hairs 0.7–1 mm long. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 30 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Gr Peru 1995.

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