Stipa gaubae

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms 10–20 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 5–10 cm long; 3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface puberulous; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle contracted; linear.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 50–60 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1.5 mm long; glabrous; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner above; without keels; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or distinct. Lower glume apex caudate. Upper glume lanceolate; 50–60 mm long; membranous; much thinner above; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex caudate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 13.5 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate; 220 mm long overall; with 180–200 mm long limb; with twisted column; limb hirsute; with 2.5 mm long hairs. Column of lemma awn 25 mm long; glabrous. Palea 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Iran 1995.

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