Stipa saltensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 15–20 cm long. Leaf-sheaths 2 cm long; striately veined. Ligule an eciliate membrane; acuminate. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 3–6 cm long; 0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; shorter than basal leaves.

Panicle contracted; linear; 4–5 cm long. Primary panicle branches bearing 2–3 fertile spikelets on each lower branch.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear, or lanceolate; subterete; 6–7 mm long; 1 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 6–7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–7 mm long; 1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 4 mm long; membranous; without keel. Lemma surface puberulous. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; mucronate. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; 0.5–1 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea apex acute.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anther tip smooth. Stigmas 2.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Kuntze 2009.

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