Stipagrostis schaeferi

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Rootstock evident. Rhizomes absent, or short; knotty. Butt sheaths woolly. Culms 35–70 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or woolly. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades curved; aciculate; 5–10 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface hirsute; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; 30–60 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels flexuous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 8–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume oblong; 8–12.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; cartilaginous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface glabrous, or pilose. Lower glume apex truncate, or obtuse. Upper glume oblong; 8–12.5 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; cartilaginous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pilose. Upper glume apex truncate, or obtuse.

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 40–45 mm long limb; with a straight or slightly twisted column; deciduous; abscissing across body of lemma; limb plumose (yellow). Column of lemma awn 1–2 mm long. Lateral lemma awns 10–15 mm long; shorter than principal; glabrous. Palea without keels.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 4 mm long. Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: south.

NOTES Aristideae. De Winter 1993.

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