Stipa lagascae

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rootstock evident. Culms 30–60 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; 15–30 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough abaxially. Leaf-blade apex hardened.

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

Panicle contracted; linear; nodding; 15–30 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 25–40 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; curved; 2.5–3 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume linear, or lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume linear, or lanceolate; 25–40 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 below; hairy in lines. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex surmounted by a ring of hairs; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 160–300 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb glabrous, or puberulous. Column of lemma awn 50–60 mm long; pubescent; with 1–2 mm long hairs. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; anther tip smooth. Stigmas 4. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southwestern. Africa: north. Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Iran 1993.

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