Stipa botschantzevii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Cataphylls evident. Basal innovations extravaginal. Culms erect; 15–25 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.2–0.3 mm long on basal shoots. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 0.4–0.6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; pubescent; sparsely hairy; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; 5–8 cm long. Primary panicle branches bearing 1–4 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle branches scabrous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 5.5–6.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus brief; pilose; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; subequal in width; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 5.5–6.5 mm long; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear to lanceolate; subterete; 1.8–2.2 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; with lobes 0.3–0.5 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; bigeniculate; 20–25 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; 1.7–2.3 mm long; anther tip penicillate. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia.

NOTES Stipeae. Tsvelev 1996.

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