Stipa breviaristata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Cataphylls evident. Culms erect; 150 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; smooth, or scaberulous; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1.4 mm long. Leaf-blades linear; involute; 25–50 cm long; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pilose; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 30 cm long; 5 cm wide.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels 2–10 mm long; puberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 6–6.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus pubescent; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 6 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; much thinner on margins; purple; 1-keeled; 5–7 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 6.5 mm long; membranous; with hyaline margins; purple; 1-keeled; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea; ciliate. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; straight; 3–4 mm long overall. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface puberulous; hairy on back; hairy below.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; 3.5–4 mm long; yellow; anther tip penicillate. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Stipeae. Keng & Kuo 1996.

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