Stipa L.

Perennial or annual tufted, rhizomatous. Leaf blade linear, expanded, folded or rolled. Inflorescence an open or contracted panicle, often linear or oblong, spikelets all alike, pedicelled. Spikelet maybe laterally compressed disarticulating above glumes. Floret 1; firmer in texture than glumes, thickly membranous to coriaceous, margins slightly overlapping.

Worldwide: About 300 species in tropical and temperate regions of both hemispheres; 5 in southern Africa.

Malawi: 1 taxon.