Stipagrostis subacaulis

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms 5–10 cm long. Culm-internodes distally pubescent. Culm-nodes glabrous. Leaves mostly basal. Leaf-sheaths antrorsely scabrous. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades aciculate; conduplicate, or convolute; 1–3 cm long; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough abaxially; hispid; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; shorter than basal leaves; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle contracted; linear; 1–3 cm long. Panicle axis scabrous. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 10–13 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 0.8–1 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear, or lanceolate; 10–13 mm long; 1.2–1.3 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume linear, or lanceolate; 8–10 mm long; 2.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 3–4 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 30–43 mm long limb; with twisted column; deciduous; abscissing from top of lemma; limb plumose; glabrescent towards base of limb. Column of lemma awn 1–13 mm long. Lateral lemma awns 10–18 mm long; shorter than principal; glabrous. Palea without keels.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Embryo 0.5 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: southern tropical and south.

NOTES Aristideae. De Winter 1993.

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