Stipa kempirica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms 60–70 cm long. Culm-internodes distally pubescent. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface, or puberulous. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 5–9 mm long; 1.2–3.5 mm long on basal shoots; pubescent on abaxial surface. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; 0.5–0.8 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough abaxially; puberulous; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 25–35 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 35–45 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 3–3.5 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 35–45 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 14–16 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy in lines. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 210–250 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb hirsute; with 2.5–3 mm long hairs. Column of lemma awn 50–60 mm long; glabrous. Palea without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 7.5–8.5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Siberia.

NOTES Stipeae. Kotuchov 2006.

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