Stipa akseirica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms 70–80 cm long. Culm-internodes distally pubescent. Leaf-sheaths puberulous. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 2.5–3 mm long; 0.5–0.7 mm long on basal shoots; pubescent on abaxial surface. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; 0.25–0.35 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough abaxially; puberulous; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath.

Panicle open; oblong; 20–25 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 22–25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 2.4–2.7 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 22–25 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume surface asperulous; rough on veins. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 22–25 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume surface asperulous; rough on veins. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 10–11 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy in lines (6 lines). Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex surmounted by a ring of hairs; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 130–150 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb scabrous. Column of lemma awn puberulous. Palea 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 6 mm long. Styles free to the base.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia.

NOTES Stipeae. Kotuchov 2006.

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