Piptatherum microcarpum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–60 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 15–30 cm long; 1–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface puberulous; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 7–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2 -nate, or 3 -nate; 3–10 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; dorsally compressed; 5–8 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. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 5–8 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; dorsally compressed; 2.5–3.5 mm long; coriaceous; shiny; without keel. Lemma surface glabrous; without hair tufts, or with basal hair tufts near margin; bearing 2 hair tufts in all. Lemma margins involute; exposing palea. Lemma apex obtuse; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight; 2–5.5 mm long overall; deciduous. Palea coriaceous; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 1.5–1.7 mm long; anther tip penicillate.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia and western Asia. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Pak 1993.

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