Stipa mongolorum

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 15–40 cm long. Culm-nodes pubescent. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface; outer margin glabrous, or hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.3 mm long; scaberulous on abaxial surface. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 0.3–0.7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface puberulous; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; 8–20 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 14–19 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 1.5 mm long; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 14–19 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 14–19 mm long; membranous; 1-keeled; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 6–7.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 45–65 mm long overall; with 40–60 mm long limb; with twisted column; limb hirsute; with 2–3.5 mm long hairs. Column of lemma awn 4–7 mm long; hirtellous; with 2 mm long hairs. Palea 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China and Mongolia.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Cent Asia 1996.

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