Piptatherum kuoi

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Rhizomes short; knotty. Culms 75–110 cm long; 1.8–3.5 mm diam.; 2–3 -noded. Leaves basal and cauline. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1–2 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 8–25 cm long; 5–8 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface glabrous, or pilose; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle. Peduncle antrorsely scabrous above.

Panicle open; linear; 13–25 cm long; 2–3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed; 2 -nate; 1–5 cm long; bearing 2–7 fertile spikelets on each lower branch.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets elliptic; dorsally compressed; 4.2–5.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; shorter than spikelet; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 4–5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; pallid; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume apex obtuse. Upper glume elliptic; 4–5 mm long; 0.9 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; pallid; without keels; 5–7 -veined. Upper glume apex obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 4.5–5.5 mm long; indurate; light brown; shiny; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins involute; exposing palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn 10–15 mm long overall; deciduous. Palea 1 length of lemma; indurate; 2 -veined; without keels.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 2.5–3 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China and eastern Asia.

NOTES Stipeae. Koyama 1993.

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