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GrassBase - The Online World Grass Flora
Descriptions
W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson
© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Stipa capillacea
HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 25–50 cm long; 1 mm diam.; 2 -noded; with 0.15–0.33 of their length below uppermost node. Leaf-sheaths 11–12 cm long; glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.6 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades convolute; 6–9(–20) cm long; 1.5–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; scaberulous. Leaf-blade apex hardened.
INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; exserted, or embraced at base by subtending leaf.
Panicle open; linear; 14–18 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2 -nate; bearing 1–3 fertile spikelets on each lower branch. Panicle axis with lower internodes 2–3.5 cm long; smooth.
Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2–4 mm long; glabrous, or puberulous.
FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 25–30 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 2.5 mm long; pubescent; pungent. Floret callus hairs 1 mm long.
GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; light green, or purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 25–30 mm long; membranous; light green, or purple; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.
FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 10 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma midvein pubescent; hairy below. Lemma surface hispidulous; with conspicuous apical hairs. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea; pubescent. Lemma hairs 1 mm long. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 23–27 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb pubescent. Middle segment of lemma awn 7–8 mm long; puberulous. Column of lemma awn 10–12 mm long; puberulous. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.
FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; anther tip smooth. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Hilum linear.
DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China and Mongolia. Asia-tropical: India.
NOTES Stipeae. Keng 1995.
Please cite this publication as detailed in How to Cite Version: 3rd February 2016.
