Stipagrostis prodigiosa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Rootstock evident. Culms erect; 30–50 cm long; 2–4 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or puberulous. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades straight, or curled; filiform; involute; 3–5 cm long; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 10–30 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 7–8 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; 7–8 mm long; 0.9–1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–8 mm long; 1.1–1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 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 15–20 mm long limb; with a straight or slightly twisted column; deciduous; abscissing across body of lemma; limb plumose; glabrescent towards base of limb. Column of lemma awn 1 mm long. Lateral lemma awns 7–10 mm long; longer than principal; plumose. Palea present; without keels.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical.

NOTES Aristideae. Henrard.

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