Piptatherum holciforme

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 40–80 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades involute, or convolute; 15–30 cm long; 1–3 mm wide; coriaceous; stiff. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; smooth, or scaberulous; rough on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 20–35 cm long; 12–24 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 2 -nate; 8–15 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 8–10(–12) 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 ovate; 8–10(–12) mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 8–10(–12) mm long; 1.1–1.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; dorsally compressed; 7 mm long; coriaceous; black; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins involute; exposing palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn flexuous; 8–13 mm long overall; deciduous. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined; without keels.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southeastern and eastern. Africa: north and northeast tropical. Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia, Caucasus, western Asia, and Arabia.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Iran.

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