Stipagrostis fastigiata

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 30–60 cm long; 4–5 -noded. Culm-internodes similar in length; scaberulous. Culm-nodes bearded. Lateral branches suffrutescent. Leaves cauline. Leaf-sheaths scaberulous; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 4–12 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides; glabrous, or pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; obovate; dense; 4–8 cm long; gathered into fascicles. Panicle branches scabrous; bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 14–18 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 2 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 10–14 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 14–18 mm long; 3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 5–5.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3-branched; with 30–35 mm long limb; with a straight or slightly twisted column; deciduous; abscissing from top of lemma; limb plumose. Column of lemma awn 1–2 mm long. Lateral lemma awns 10–20 mm long; shorter than principal; plumose. Palea without keels.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Aristideae. De Winter 1993.

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