Stipagrostis gonatostachys

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Cataphylls evident. Butt sheaths glabrous, or pilose. Culms 2–10 cm long; 1 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pubescent. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades involute; 1–4 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; scaberulous; rough adaxially; pilose; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade apex obtuse.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 3–6 fertile spikelets; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle contracted; linear; 3–7 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Panicle axis pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 9–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1.4 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 9–10 mm long; 0.9–1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface asperulous; rough generally. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 9–10 mm long; 2–2.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 4 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 10–16 mm long limb; with twisted column; deciduous; abscissing from top of lemma; limb plumose; glabrescent towards base of limb. Column of lemma awn 2–4 mm long. Lateral lemma awns 6–9 mm long; shorter than principal; glabrous. Palea without keels.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Aristideae. De Winter 1993.

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