Stipa austroaltaica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms 90–115 cm long. Culm-internodes distally pubescent. Leaf-sheaths pubescent. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 3–3.5 mm long; 1–1.2 mm long on basal shoots; pubescent on abaxial surface. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; 0.2–0.3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough abaxially; pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 25–40 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 17–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 2.5–3 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 17–20 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 2.5–8.2 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy in lines (6 lines). Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 81–96 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn 24–38 mm long; scabrous. Palea without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 5.7–6.1 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Siberia.

NOTES Stipeae. Kotuchov 2006.

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