Piptatherum alpestre

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 15–35 cm long. Leaf-sheaths smooth. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–5 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 0.8–2.5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 4–10 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 5–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; without keels. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 5–7 mm long; hyaline; without keels. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 3.8–4.2 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below. Lemma margins involute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 2–3.5 mm long overall; deciduous. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia.

NOTES Stipeae. Zlaki 1997.

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