Stipa macroglossa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 30–50 cm long. Culm-internodes distally pubescent. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 4–7 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 15–20 cm long; 0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough abaxially; glabrous.

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

Panicle contracted; lanceolate; 10–20 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 55 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 3 mm long; glabrous; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 50–55 mm long; 1.1–1.2 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 40–48 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 9–11 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy in lines. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 250 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb plumose; with 5–7 mm long hairs. Column of lemma awn 50–60 mm long; glabrous. 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, western Asia, and China.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Iran 1995.

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