Stipa apertifolia

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–45 cm long. Culm-internodes distally pubescent. Leaf-sheaths pilose. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–5 mm long; 0.5–1 mm long on basal shoots. Leaf-blades flat; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; smooth, or scaberulous; glabrous; hairless except near base. Leaf-blade apex hardened; hairy.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 7 fertile spikelets. Peduncle pubescent above.

Panicle contracted; linear; 8–12 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 35–65 mm long; 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; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 35–65 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 20–21 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy all along; hairy in lines. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 220–240 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb plumose. Middle segment of lemma awn 19–20 mm long; pubescent. Column of lemma awn 25–55 mm long; glabrous. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2. Styles free to the base. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern.

NOTES Stipeae. Martinovsky 1995.

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