Stipa ordubadensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect, or geniculately ascending; 30–60 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades flat, or convolute; 10–20 cm long; 0.5–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; grooved abaxially; scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; effuse; 15–25 cm long. Panicle branches capillary; flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 4.2–5.3 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus brief; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume surface smooth; glabrous. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 4.2–6.5 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume surface smooth; glabrous. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; 2.3–3.2 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn curved; 11–15 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column; deciduous. Column of lemma awn 3–5 mm long. Palea 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Caucasus.

NOTES Stipeae. Tsvelev 2003.

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