| TREATMENT FROM THE JEPSON MANUAL (1993) |
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©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California
For up-to-date information about California vascular plants, visit the Jepson eFlora. |
AND IS MAINTAINED FOR ARCHIVAL PURPOSES ONLY |
Annual to bamboo-like; roots generally fibrous
Stem generally round, hollow; nodes swollen, solid
Leaves alternate, 2-ranked, generally linear; sheath generally open; ligule membranous or hairy, at blade base
Inflorescence various (of generally many spikelets)
Spikelet: glumes generally 2; florets (lemma, palea, flower) 1–many; lemma generally membranous, sometimes glume-like; palea generally ± transparent, ± enclosed by lemma
Flower generally bisexual, minute; stamens generally 3; stigmas generally 2, generally plumose
Fruit: achene-like grain
Genera in family: 650–900 genera; ± 10,000 species: worldwide; greatest economic importance of any family (wheat, rice, maize, millet, sorghum, sugar cane, forage crops, ornamental, weeds; thatching, weaving, building materials)
Reference: [Hitchcock 1951 Manual grasses US, USDA Misc Publ 200; Clayton & Renvoise 1986 Kew Bull Add Series 13]
See Glossary p. 26 for illustrations of general family characteristics. Generally wind-pollinated.
Perennial, tufted
Stem generally erect
Leaf: ligule membranous, sometimes long-ciliate, blade generally flat
Inflorescence panicle-like, generally narrow; branches generally ascending
Spikelet: glumes > floret (except awn), tapered below midpoint; axis breaking above glumes; floret 1, generally cylindric; callus blunt or sharp, hairs stiff; lemma stiffly membranous to hard, evenly hairy or glabrous above, awned from tip; awn > 10 mm, persistent, with 1–2 bends, or < 10 mm, readily deciduous, ± straight; palea < lemma, hairy, veined
Species in genus: ± 75 species: temp worldwide
Etymology: (Greek: awned scale, from lemma)
Segregated mostly from Stipa ; see also Hesperostipa, Nassella.
| Native |
Stem 4–17.5 dm
Leaf: blade 0.5–4.5 mm wide
Inflorescence 9–36 cm
Spikelet: glumes 6–12.5 mm, subequal; floret 4.5–7 mm; callus blunt; lemma ± 2 X palea length, hairs 1–2 mm; awn 13–45 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=36,44
Ecology: Clearings, sagebrush shrubland steppe, meadows
Elevation: 500–3500 m.
Bioregional distribution: Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada, Modoc Plateau
Distribution outside California: to Yukon, Wyoming, Utah
Synonyms: Stipa columbiana Macoun misappliedHorticultural information: TRY.