Stipa verticillata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short; scaly. Culms erect; 50–100 cm long; woody. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches sparse. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades 2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 20–40 cm long. Primary panicle branches whorled at most nodes; 1–5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; subterete; 3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus brief; pubescent; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; reaching apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 2.5 mm long; 0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 3 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 3 mm long; cartilaginous; dark brown; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface tuberculate; pubescent. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex entire; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 20–40 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb scabrous. Palea 0.4 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; membranous. Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long; anther tip penicillate. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia and New Zealand.

NOTES Stipeae. Tothill 1993.

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