Stipa keniensis

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes short; knotty. Culms 90–150 cm long. Leaves cauline. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–5 mm long. Leaf-blades 30–60 cm long; 6–12 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or hirsute; sparsely hairy.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; dense, or loose; 15–40 cm long. Primary panicle branches naked below, or bearing spikelets almost to the base. Panicle branches straight, or flexuous; scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 6–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus brief; 0.5 mm long; bearded; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 6–7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute to acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 6–7 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute to acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 5–6 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; straight; 10–15 mm long overall. Palea elliptic; 1 length of lemma; coriaceous; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface pilose.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; oblanceolate; membranous. Anthers 3; anther tip smooth. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Embryo 0.1–0.2 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical, east tropical, and south.

NOTES Stipeae. FTEA.

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