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GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora
Descriptions
W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson
© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Piptatherum blancheanum
HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 50–90 cm long; 3–4 -noded. Leaf-sheaths smooth, or scaberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 5–10 mm long; obtuse, or acute. Leaf-blades 10–20 cm long; 5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface papillose; rough abaxially.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.
Panicle open; ovate; 6–20 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; 1–2 -nate. Panicle branches scaberulous.
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 7–9 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.
GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; without keels; 7–9 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 7–9 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; purple; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.
FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 4–5 mm long; coriaceous; shiny; without keel. Lemma margins involute; exposing palea. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight; 4.5–6 mm long overall; persistent. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined; without keels.
FLOWER Lodicules 3; 1 mm long. Anthers 3; 2.8–3.6 mm long; anther tip smooth.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 3–3.5 mm long.
DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia.
NOTES Stipeae. Fl Turk 1993.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.