Stipa chitralensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rhizomes elongated. Culms erect; 20–40 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.5 mm long; truncate. Leaf-blades flexuous; flat, or involute; 10–25 cm long; 2.5–6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; elliptic; 8–10 cm long; 2 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 9–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus brief; 0.5 mm long; bearded; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume oblong; 7–8 mm long; 0.75 length of upper glume; hyaline; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 8.5–9.5 mm long; 1 length of adjacent fertile lemma; hyaline; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 9–10 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma hairs 2 mm long. Lemma apex lobed; 2 -fid; with lobes 2.5 mm long; incised 0.25 of lemma length; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 16–20 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column. Column of lemma awn 6 mm long; glabrous. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface pilose; hairy on back.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; linear. Anthers 3; 6 mm long; anther tip smooth. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Stipeae. Bor 1993.

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