Piptatherum munroi

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 20–40 cm long. Culm-nodes glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths smooth. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–2.5 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 6–13 cm long; 2–2.5 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially, or on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; nodding; 7–14 cm long; 1–2 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed; 2.5 cm long. Panicle branches scaberulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels smooth; tip widened.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 4–4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 4–4.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; pallid; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 4–4.5 mm long; 1.3–1.5 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; pallid; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate, or oblong; dorsally compressed; 3 mm long; coriaceous; yellow; without keel. Lemma surface puberulous; hairy all along. Lemma margins involute; exposing palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 6–10 mm long overall; deciduous. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5 mm long; anther tip penicillate.

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

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Pak 1992.

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