Stipa brachychaeta

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 40–90 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs ciliate. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.2–0.5 mm long; pilose on abaxial surface; truncate. Leaf-blades filiform; flat, or convolute; 8–35 cm long; 0.5–3 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially, or on both sides; glabrous. Leaf-blade margins ciliate; hairy at base. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; exserted, or embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle open; equilateral; 10–25 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 6–8 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus brief; 0.4–0.5 mm long; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 6–8 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–8 mm long; 1.5–2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 4–5.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy on back. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate, or bigeniculate; 10–18 mm long overall; with 6–12 mm long limb; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Column of lemma awn 2–4 mm long; glabrous. Palea 3–3.5 mm long; 0.8 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface pilose; hairy on back (extending beyond tip).

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; 2–2.4 mm long; anther tip penicillate. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; oblong; 2–3 mm long (x0.9–1mm). Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis.

CLEISTOGENES AND VIVIPARY Cleistogenes present; in upper sheaths and in lower sheaths.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia. South America: southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Torres 1994.

ADDITIONAL CHARACTERS Style base persistent, central.

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