Piptatherum roshevitsianum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 40–70 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths antrorsely scabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4–6 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 1.2–3.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough on both sides. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; 6–12 cm long; 0.8–1.5 cm wide. Primary panicle branches appressed; 3–3.5 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets ovate; dorsally compressed; 4.5–6 mm long; 1.8 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus glabrous; obtuse; disarticulating transversely; with elliptic scar.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume ovate; 1 length of upper glume; herbaceous; much thinner above; mid-green and light brown; without keels. Lower glume surface asperulous; rough above. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume ovate; 4.5–6 mm long; herbaceous; much thinner above; mid-green and light brown; without keels. Upper glume surface asperulous; rough above. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 3.8–4.2 mm long; 1.4 mm wide; coriaceous; dark brown; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins involute; exposing palea. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight; 4–6 mm long overall; deciduous. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia.

NOTES Stipeae. Tsvelev 1996.

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