Stipagrostis multinerva

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 15–30 cm long. Culm-internodes distally woolly. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 5–10 cm long; 1 mm wide; glaucous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle contracted; linear; 2–8 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 14–16 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 2.5 mm long; pubescent; with longer hairs above; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 14 mm long; 0.9–1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume surface pilose. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 14–16 mm long; 2.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume surface pilose. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; subterete; 6–7 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 35–45 mm long limb; with twisted column; deciduous; abscissing from top of lemma; limb plumose; glabrescent towards tip and base of limb. Column of lemma awn 5 mm long; glabrous; without distinct apical hairs. Lateral lemma awns 14 mm long; shorter than principal; glabrous. Palea 0.5 length of lemma; without keels.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: north. Asia-temperate: western Asia and Arabia.

NOTES Aristideae. TAC.

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