Stipa austroitalica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 40–70 cm long. Culm-internodes distally pilose. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface, or pilose. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 3–5 mm long; 1–2.5 mm long on basal shoots; pubescent on abaxial surface. Leaf-blades 0.4–0.6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; smooth; pubescent; densely hairy; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 3–8 fertile spikelets.

Panicle contracted; linear; 10–15 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 30–70 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 30–70 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 17–18.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy all along; hairy in lines. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex entire, or dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn apical, or from a sinus; bigeniculate; 200–300 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb plumose. Middle segment of lemma awn 18–22 mm long; glabrous. Column of lemma awn 25–40 mm long. Palea 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southeastern.

NOTES Stipeae. Martinovsky 1995.

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