Stipa almeriensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–80 cm long. Leaf-sheaths scaberulous; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 5–12 mm long; scaberulous on abaxial surface. Leaf-blades convolute; 5–50 cm long; 0.7–0.9 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough abaxially. Leaf-blade margins pubescent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 10–29 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 10–15 mm long; pubescent.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 75–95 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 5–7 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 75–95 mm long; 1.1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 70–90 mm long; 4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 17–19 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below; hairy in lines. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 290–410 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb plumose; with 8 mm long hairs. Column of lemma awn glabrous. Palea 14–17 mm long; 0.8 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface glabrous. Palea apex acute.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; 15 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 16 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern.

NOTES Stipeae. Vasquez 2009.

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