Stipagrostis vulnerans

HABIT Perennial. Roots woolly. Rhizomes elongated. Culms 30–70 cm long; woody. Lateral branches suffrutescent. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades aciculate; 5–25 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 10–20 cm long. Panicle branches bearded in axils.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.5 mm long; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 10 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 10 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 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 8–10 mm long limb; without a column, or with a straight or slightly twisted column; deciduous; abscissing from top of lemma; limb plumose; glabrescent towards tip. Column of lemma awn 0–1 mm long. Lateral lemma awns 8–10 mm long; subequal to principal; plumose. Palea without keels.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: north.

NOTES Aristideae. Fl Egypt 1993.

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