Stipa diastrophica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths red. Culms erect; 7–14 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths 2–3 cm long; longer than adjacent culm internode; pilose; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Collar glabrous. Leaf-blades curved; filiform; conduplicate; 0.7–0.8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; muticous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 8–17 fertile spikelets; shorter than basal leaves.

Panicle contracted; linear; 4–6 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels angular; villous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 18–22 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; curved; 1.8–2 mm long; pubescent; acute. Floret callus hairs 1 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 17–20 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; hyaline; mid-green, or purple; without keels. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 18–22 mm long; 2–2.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; mid-green, or purple; without keels. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 8–10 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy all along. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate; 30–40 mm long overall; with 19–21 mm long limb; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 13–15 mm long; plumose. Palea 6 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl San Juan 2011.

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