Piptatherum baluchistanicum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 12–60 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 5–15 cm long; 1–2.5 mm wide; grey-green. Leaf-blade surface papillose; rough abaxially; hirsute; densely hairy; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 5–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 4.5–7.5 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 elliptic; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 4.5–7.5 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 3.5–4.5 mm long; coriaceous; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins involute; exposing palea. Lemma hairs white; 0.2–0.3 mm long. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight; 2–4 mm long overall; deciduous. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2–2.5 mm long; anther tip penicillate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Pak 1993.

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