Stipagrostis sokotrana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 6–30 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades aciculate; involute; 1–6 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide; stiff; glaucous. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 5–10 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 18.5–26 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; curved; 1.5–2 mm long; pubescent; with longer hairs above; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 8.5–14 mm long; 0.5 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 5–9 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins ribbed. Lower glume surface scabrous (on veins); puberulous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 18.5–26 mm long; 3.5–4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins ribbed. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough on veins; puberulous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; subterete; 5–6.5 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 55–70 mm long limb; with twisted column; deciduous; abscissing from top of lemma; limb plumose (the plume obtuse); glabrescent towards base of limb (pubescent there). Column of lemma awn 8.5–13 mm long; glabrous; without distinct apical hairs. Lateral lemma awns 8.5–13 mm long; shorter than principal; glabrous. Palea without keels.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; linear; 3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical. Asia-temperate: Arabia.

NOTES Aristideae. TAC.

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