Stephanachne pappophorea

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms 10–40 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5–3 mm long. Leaf-blades 7–15 cm long; 0.6–2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough on both sides. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle spiciform; linear; 4–10 cm long. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; scaberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; with a barren rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 5–7 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pilose.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume surface asperulous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 5–7 mm long; 2–2.25 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Upper glume surface asperulous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma ovate; 2.2–3.2 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; with a transverse fringe of hair. Lemma hairs 2.5–3.5 mm long. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lanceolate lobes; incised 0.25–0.33 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 6–8 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 2 -veined. Palea surface pilose; hairy on back. Rhachilla extension 0.1 length of fertile floret; pilose.

FLOWER Lodicules 2. Anthers 3; 0.6–1 mm long. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; ellipsoid; 1.6–2.2 mm long. Hilum linear; 0.9 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia, China, and Mongolia.

NOTES Duthieeae. WDC.

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