Stipa argillosa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms 30–40 cm long. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.6–1 mm long; 0.2–0.3 mm long on basal shoots; pubescent on abaxial surface. Leaf-blades filiform; flat, or conduplicate; 0.25–0.4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough abaxially; puberulous; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 15–20 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 13–16 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1–1.3 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; membranous; without keels. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 13–16 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 7–8 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy in lines. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex surmounted by a ring of hairs; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 80–95 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb pubescent; with 1–1.2 mm long hairs. Column of lemma awn 150–200 mm long; smooth, or scabrous. Palea 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3–3.2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Siberia.

NOTES Stipeae. Kotuchov 2006.

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