Stipa kieslingii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths red. Culms 30–50 cm long; 1–1.5 mm diam.; 2–3 -noded. Culm-internodes distally pilose. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 3–5 mm long. Collar glabrous. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; 15–19 cm long; 0.7–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 9–21 fertile spikelets; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle contracted; linear; 8–10 cm long; 1–1.5 cm wide; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 20–23 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; curved; 1.8–1.9 mm long; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear, or lanceolate; 20–23 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume linear, or lanceolate; 20–23 mm long; 2–2.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; laterally compressed; 8–9 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma midvein pubescent. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex surmounted by a ring of hairs; with this appendage 3–3.5 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate; 20–40 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn plumose.

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.