Stipa nevadensis

HABIT Perennial (tufted); caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 40–90 cm long. Culm-internodes antrorsely scabrous; distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths smooth, or scaberulous; glabrous on surface. Leaf-sheath oral hairs lacking. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; flat, or involute; 10–25 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface puberulous (above).

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 10–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 7–10 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 7–10 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–10 mm long; hyaline; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 5–6.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface villous. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma hairs 1.5 mm long. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 20–35 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb glabrous. Column of lemma awn pubescent. Palea 0.5 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface pubescent.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION North America: southwest USA.

NOTES Stipeae. Johnston.

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