Stipa wakoolica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 1.5–3 mm diam. Culm-internodes terete; distally pubescent, or hirsute. Culm-nodes swollen; pubescent. Leaf-sheaths tight; ribbed; pubescent, or hirsute; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–0.8 mm long; pilose on abaxial surface; truncate, or obtuse. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 20–40 cm long; 1.5–2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; grooved adaxially; pubescent; hairy adaxially, or on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 30–36 cm long; 3–5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches spreading; whorled at most nodes; 5–10 cm long. Panicle axis scaberulous. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2–7 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 11–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1.5–2 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 11–15 mm long; 1.2–1.4 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner above; purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface asperulous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 9–11 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; purple; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface asperulous; rough on veins. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblanceolate; subterete; 5.5–6.5 mm long; cartilaginous; dark brown; without keel. Lemma lateral veins with distinct primaries but obscure intermediates. Lemma surface hirsute. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma hairs white. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; surmounted by a ring of hairs; with this appendage 2–2.5 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; bigeniculate; 35–60 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb scabrous. Middle segment of lemma awn 8–15 mm long. Column of lemma awn 7–10 mm long; scabrous; puberulous. Palea 1 length of lemma; coriaceous; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; 1 mm long. Anthers 3; anther tip penicillate. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 3–4 mm long. Embryo 0.33 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear; 0.66–0.75 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Stipeae. Vickery 1997.

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