Stipa multinodis

HABIT Perennial. Culms erect; 60–100 cm long; wiry; 4–6 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches sparse; arising from mid culm. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 10–30 cm long; 1–3 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 10–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending; distant; 2–6 cm long. Panicle branches stiff.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.5 mm long; pubescent (tawny); unequally 2-toothed.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; pallid; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 25–40 mm long; hyaline; pallid; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 5 mm long; membranous; pallid; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma hairs white, or tawny. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 25–30 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 0.6 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; anther tip penicillate. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION North America: Mexico.

NOTES Stipeae. N Amer Fl 1994.

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