Stipa alpina

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 15–35 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; scaberulous; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; obtuse. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 0.3–0.4 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 5–7 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 5–15 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 3.6–4.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus brief; 0.2–0.8 mm long; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; subequal in width; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 3.6–4.5 mm long; hyaline; without keels. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear to lanceolate; subterete; 3.5–4.3 mm long; membranous; dark brown; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface puberulous; hairy below; hairy on veins. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; bigeniculate; 15–20 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb plumose. Middle segment of lemma awn plumose. Column of lemma awn plumose. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; anther tip penicillate. Stigmas 2. Styles free to the base. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Siberia and Soviet far east.

NOTES Stipeae. Zlaki 1997.

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