Stipa nana

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 7–13 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Culm-internodes smooth. Culm-nodes glabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long; 0.5 mm long on basal shoots; acute. Leaf-blades curved; conduplicate; 3–4 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; linear; 3–5 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2–7 mm long; ciliate.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 15–18 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 1.8–2 mm long; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 15–18 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 15–18 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 6.5–7.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate; 23–28 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 9–10 mm long; plumose. Palea 5 mm long; 0 -veined; without keels. Palea surface pubescent.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION South America: southern South America.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Pat 1995.

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