Stipa bomanii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 20–40 cm long. Leaf-sheaths 7–10 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4–6 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 10–17 cm long; 0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 15–20 cm long; 0.2–0.3 cm wide; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches 2–4 -nate; 4–6 cm long. Panicle axis 4–5 noded.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 4 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 4.5 mm long; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 3 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn flexuous; 45–60 mm long overall. Palea 0.75 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: western South America and southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Hitchcock 1995.

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