Stipagrostis masirahensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 5–10 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth, or antrorsely scabrous; distally glabrous. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades curled; convolute; 2–5 cm long; 0.5–0.7 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 5–6 fertile spikelets; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle contracted; linear; 2 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 17 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 2 mm long; pubescent; with longer hairs above; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 12 mm long; 0.7 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 17 mm long; 4 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; subterete; 4 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3-branched; with 40 mm long limb; with twisted column; deciduous; abscissing from top of lemma; limb plumose; glabrescent towards base of limb (pubescent there). Column of lemma awn 2–3 mm long; pubescent; without distinct apical hairs. Lateral lemma awns 30 mm long; shorter than principal; plumose (pubescent above and below). Palea without keels.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Arabia.

NOTES Aristideae. TAC.

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