Stipa barbata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rootstock evident. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flexuous; filiform; conduplicate, or involute; 15–30 cm long; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough abaxially; puberulous; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex hardened.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle contracted; linear; 15–30 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 25–35 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; curved; 1.5 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume linear, or lanceolate; 20–30 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume linear, or lanceolate; 25–35 mm long; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; subterete; 10–12 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex surmounted by a ring of hairs; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 150–200 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb plumose; with 1–2 mm long hairs. Column of lemma awn 45–50 mm long; hirtellous. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; anther tip smooth. Stigmas 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern and southeastern. Africa: north. Asia-temperate: Caucasus and western Asia.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Iran 1993.

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