Piptatherum gracile

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 10–55 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; flat, or involute, or convolute; 6–20 cm long; 1–2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 6–20 cm long; 0.5–1 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed, or ascending; 2 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 4.5–8.5 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; without keels. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 4.5–8.5 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear, or lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 3–4.5 mm long; coriaceous; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins involute; exposing palea. Lemma hairs white; 0.4–0.5 mm long. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn subapical; curved; 3–6 mm long overall; deciduous. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.7–2.5 mm long; anther tip penicillate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia and China. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Pak 1993.

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