Stipa pycnostachya

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes short. Culms 15–30 cm long; wiry. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades aciculate; terete; 1–2 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 5–10 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

STERILE SPIKELETS Basal sterile spikelets absent, or rudimentary.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 10–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 10–12 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 10–12 mm long; membranous; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 3 mm long; cartilaginous; without keel. Lemma surface villous. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn curved; 30–40 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea apex ciliate.

FLOWER 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.