Stipa mundula

HABIT Perennial. Culms geniculately ascending; 20–30 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades curved; filiform; 6–8 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear, or elliptic; 5–8 cm long; 1–2 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 3 cm long. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 14–26 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 2.5 mm long; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; gaping. Lower glume lanceolate; 14–16 mm long; 1.4 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 10–11 mm long; hyaline; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 7 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma hairs white. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate; 65–70 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 26–28 mm long; puberulous. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; anther tip penicillate. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Stipeae. Black 1997.

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