Stipagrostis proxima

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 20–60 cm long; 2–6 -noded. Culm-internodes distally pubescent, or woolly. Lateral branches suffrutescent. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 5–10 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; pilose; hairy abaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle pubescent above.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 10–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches bearing 2–5 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches pubescent; pubescent in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 8–11 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1.5–2 mm long; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 6.5–10 mm long; 0.8–0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 8–11 mm long; 1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scaberulous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 5.5–7 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 8–12 mm long limb; with a straight or slightly twisted column; deciduous; abscissing across body of lemma; limb plumose; hairy throughout limb. Column of lemma awn 1 mm long. Lateral lemma awns 4–5 mm long; subequal to 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.