Stipa mongholica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 15–60 cm long. Culm-internodes mid-green, or purple; distally glabrous. Leaves basal and cauline. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; scaberulous; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; obtuse. Leaf-blades filiform; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 3–7 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 8–20 fertile spikelets.

Panicle open; ovate; 5–15 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 4.5–6.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus brief; 0.2–0.8 mm long; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; subequal in width; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; hyaline; pallid and purple. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 4.5–6.5 mm long; hyaline; pallid and purple; without keels. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear to lanceolate; subterete; 3.3–5.3 mm long; membranous; dark brown; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface puberulous; hairy below; hairy on veins. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; bigeniculate; 15–30 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb plumose. Middle segment of lemma awn plumose. Column of lemma awn plumose. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; anther tip penicillate. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet Middle Asia, China, Mongolia, and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl USSR 1996.

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