Stipa jucunda

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths pallid; glossy. Culms 16–19 cm long; 2 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths 3–5 cm long. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Collar pubescent. Leaf-blades flexuous; filiform; convolute; 8–10 cm long; 0.5–0.8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; muticous, or pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 5–8 fertile spikelets; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle contracted; linear; 3–4 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 24–27 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1.5–1.6 mm long; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear, or lanceolate; 24–27 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume linear, or lanceolate; 24–27 mm long; membranous. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 10–15 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface villous; with conspicuous apical hairs. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma hairs 8–10 mm long. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate; 30–36 mm long overall; with 23–30 mm long limb; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 5.8–6.4 mm long; hirsute. Palea 5.8–6.4 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.