Stipa luquensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Basal innovations intravaginal. Culms erect; 5–23 cm long; 0.5–0.8 mm diam.; 1 -noded. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths 0.5–8 cm long; mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane, or a ciliolate membrane; 0.4–1.2 mm long; brown, or purple; truncate, or obtuse. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 2–6 cm long; 0.2–0.5 mm wide; 1–2 cm long at summit of culm. Leaf-blade surface glabrous. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 10–15 fertile spikelets; bracteate at branch bases (1–5mm long, on lower branches).

Panicle open; oblong; effuse; 2–5.2 cm long; 1–3 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending; (1–)2 -nate; 0.7–2.8 cm long. Panicle axis with lower internodes 0.9–1.7 cm long. Panicle branches capillary; sinuous; smooth; glabrous; with prominent pulvini.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 3–12 mm long; bearing a few hairs, or glabrous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 2.6–3.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; pilose; unequally 2-toothed. Floret callus hairs 0.5–1 mm long.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume elliptic, or oblong; 2.6–3.5 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1–3 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent, or obscure. Lower glume surface glabrous, or pubescent; hairy at apex. Lower glume apex erose; obtuse. Upper glume elliptic, or oblong; 2.6–3.5 mm long; membranous; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins obscure. Upper glume surface glabrous, or pubescent; hairy at apex. Upper glume apex erose; obtuse.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 2.2–2.7 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above; pilose; hairy below. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma hairs 0.2–0.6 mm long. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; with lobes 0.6 mm long; emarginate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 6–10 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb hirsute; with 1.2–2 mm long hairs. Column of lemma awn hirsute; with 1.2–2 mm long hairs. Palea 2.2–2.7 mm long; 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3; obovate; 0.7–1 mm long. Anthers 3; 1–1.4 mm long; yellow; anther tip smooth. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 1.6–1.9 mm long. Embryo 0.25 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear; 1 length of caryopsis.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Stipeae. Peterson et al 2005.

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