Stipa venusta

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 15–30 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–4 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 10–15 cm long; 0.3–0.4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex hardened.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 5–20 cm long. Panicle axis with lower internodes 1–4 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 1–3 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus brief; 0.3 mm long; pubescent; hairy in a ring above; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 3.5 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 4 mm long; membranous; purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 3 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; pubescent; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn flexuous; 45–65 mm long overall. Palea 2.5 mm long; 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 2; 0.6 mm long. Anthers 3; 1–1.2 mm long. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 2 mm long. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Matthei 1995.

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