Piptatherum molinioides

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths scarious; persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms erect; 15–45 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flexuous; filiform; 3–8 cm long; 1–2 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 4–8 cm long; 0.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches indistinct the panicle almost racemose.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic, or ovate; dorsally compressed; 9–10 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; 3(–5) -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 3 mm long; membranous; without keels; 5(–9) -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 6–6.5 mm long; coriaceous; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins involute; exposing palea. Lemma hairs yellow. Lemma apex muticous. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; anther tip smooth.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Caucasus and western Asia.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Iran 1993.

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