Stipa lipskyi

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 30–50 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths pubescent; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliolate membrane. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 15–25 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade apex hardened.

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

Panicle open; lanceolate; 10–20 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 65–75 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; curved; 1.5–2 mm long; 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; 65–75 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 13–15 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy all along; 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; 170–210 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb plumose; with 6–7 mm long hairs. Column of lemma awn 20–30 mm long. 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 Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl USSR 1995.

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