Stipa elegantissima

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short. Culms rambling, or scandent; 200–300 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches ample. Leaf-sheaths scaberulous; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–5 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades involute; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; deciduous as a whole.

Panicle open; 15–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches whorled at most nodes; branching divaricately. Panicle branches plumose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; plumose.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 8–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 8–10 mm long; 0.75–0.85 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume surface pubescent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 8–10 mm long; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface pubescent. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 8 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel. Lemma surface tuberculate; rough above; pubescent; hairy at base. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 30–55 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 15 mm long; pubescent. Palea 2 mm long; 0.4 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anther tip penicillate. Stigmas 2.

DISTRIBUTION Australasia: Australia.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl W Austral 1994.

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