Stipa breviflora

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 25–40 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 1–1.5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 10–25 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 10–25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.9–1.3 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 10–25 mm long; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 5–7 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface tuberculate; rough above; pubescent; hairy below; 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; 55–80 mm long overall; with twisted column; deciduous; limb pubescent; with 0.5–0.8 mm long hairs. Column of lemma awn hirtellous; with 0.5–0.8 mm long hairs. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3. Stigmas 3. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia, China, and Mongolia. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Pak 1993.

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