Stipa chinensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 60–70 cm long; 2 -noded. Leaf-sheaths smooth. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.3 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 15–25 cm long; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 15 cm long; with spikelets clustered towards branch tips. Primary panicle branches 2 -nate; 5–7 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 3.5–4 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; curved; glabrous; acute; disarticulating transversely; with elliptic scar.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 3.5–4 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 2.5 mm long; coriaceous; yellow, or light brown; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn curved; 5–7 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column; deciduous. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China and Mongolia.

NOTES Stipeae. Hitchcock 1995.

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