Stipa brandisii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped loosely. Culms erect; 70–150 cm long; 3–4 -noded. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.4–1 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades flat; 20–40 cm long; 4–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough abaxially. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; 10–30 cm long. Primary panicle branches ascending, or spreading; 2 -nate; naked below, or bearing spikelets almost to the base.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 7–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus brief; 0.3–0.5 mm long; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic, or oblong; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; pallid, or mid-green; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic, or oblong; 7–10 mm long; 1.2–1.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; pallid, or mid-green; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 5.5–7.5 mm long; membranous; without keel. Lemma surface pilose; hairy all along. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex surmounted by a ring of hairs; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate, or bigeniculate; 10–18 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn scabrous; glabrous. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; 4–5 mm long; anther tip smooth. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl China 2004.

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