Stipa marqueziana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths red. Culms 40–50 cm long; 2 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Collar glabrous. Leaf-blades flexuous; filiform; conduplicate; 0.4–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough abaxially. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; muticous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; flexuous; 18–24 cm long; 0.5–1 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 18–19 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; curved; 1.5–1.7 mm long; pilose; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 18–19 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 17–18 mm long; 2–2.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; laterally compressed; 8–10 mm long; coriaceous; keeled. Lemma surface glabrous. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex surmounted by a ring of hairs; with this appendage 1.5–2 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate; 25–33 mm long overall; with 16–22 mm long limb; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 9–11 mm long; hirsute. Palea 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.