Stipagrostis xylosa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rootstock evident. Culms 6–25 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades curled; deciduous at the ligule; involute; 0.5–2 cm long; 1 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 3–5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 12–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1 mm long; pubescent; with longer hairs above; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 12–15 mm long; 1.2–1.3 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 9–12 mm long; 2.5–3.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; subterete; 3.5 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 35–45 mm long limb; with twisted column; deciduous; abscissing from top of lemma; limb plumose (the plume obtuse); glabrescent towards tip and base of limb. Column of lemma awn 4–8 mm long; glabrous; without distinct apical hairs. Lateral lemma awns 10–15 mm long; shorter than principal; glabrous. Palea without keels.

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

NOTES Aristideae. TAC.

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