Stipa dasyphylla

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 40–80 cm long. Leaf-sheaths puberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades convolute; 1–3 mm wide; grey-green. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; densely hairy; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade apex hardened.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 5–7 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; linear; 7–12 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 50–70 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 50–70 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 20–22 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy in lines. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 35–45 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb plumose; with 5–6 mm long hairs. Column of lemma awn glabrous. 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 Europe: central, southeastern, and eastern. Asia-temperate: Siberia and Caucasus.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Eur 1995.

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