Stipa meridionalis

HABIT Annual; caespitose. Culms erect; 40–75 cm long. Culm-nodes purple. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 5–8 mm long; scaberulous on abaxial surface. Leaf-blades convolute; 10–55 cm long; 0.3–1.1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate, or ovate; 15–27 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 14–40 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1.5–2.9 mm long; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 14–40 mm long; 1.1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 12–35 mm long; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface scabrous; rough on veins. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 10–14 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy in lines. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 80–170 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 9–13 mm long; without keels. Palea surface glabrous, or pubescent.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; 1.5–3.2 mm long; membranous. Anthers 3; retained within floret.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 6–8.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: north.

NOTES Stipeae. Vasquez & Devesa 2005.

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