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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Stipa nodosa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 50–100 cm long; 1–2 mm diam.; 3–5 -noded. Culm-internodes smooth, or scaberulous. Culm-nodes swollen; glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaves basal and cauline. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; smooth, or scaberulous; outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–2 mm long; truncate. Collar glabrous. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 15–30 cm long; 1–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; scaberulous; rough on both sides. Leaf-blade margins glabrous, or ciliate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; 15–50 cm long; 1–2 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 1–8 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels flattened; 2–15 mm long; scabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 10–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1–2.5 mm long; pilose; pungent. Floret callus hairs 0.8 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 10–15 mm long; 0.75–1 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 7–19 mm long; hyaline; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume surface smooth, or asperulous. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear; subterete; 4–7 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma hairs 0.3–0.6 mm long. Lemma apex entire, or dentate; 2 -fid; with lobes 0–0.4 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn apical, or from a sinus; curved; recurved at base of limb; 45–100 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb glabrous. Column of lemma awn 5–10 mm long; puberulous. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface puberulous; hairy on back.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; 1–2 mm long. Anthers 3; 2–3 mm long; anther tip penicillate. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 3–4 mm long. Embryo 0.2–0.3 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear; 0.5–0.8 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia and New Zealand.

NOTES Stipeae. Vickery etc 1994.

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