Stipa braun-blanquetii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 25–28 cm long; 0.5–0.7 mm diam.; 2 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous, or pubescent. Culm-nodes swollen; glabrous. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades curved; conduplicate; 1 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade apex acuminate; pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 15–25 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; oblong; 8–9 cm long; 1 cm wide; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 22–23 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; curved; 2 mm long; glabrous; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 22–23 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 22–23 mm long; hyaline; without keels. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 11–11.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; with conspicuous apical hairs. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma hairs 0.7–0.8 mm long, or 3–4 mm long (at tip). Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate; 19–21 mm long overall; with 11–12 mm long limb; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 9 mm long; plumose. Palea 6.5 mm long.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 7.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Roig 1997.

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