Stipa orientalis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Butt sheaths coriaceous; persistent and investing base of culm. Culms 20–35 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–3 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 10–20 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough abaxially. Leaf-blade apex hardened.

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

Panicle contracted; linear; 5–10 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 20–33 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1.5–2.5 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 20–33 mm long; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 6–10 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy in lines. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex surmounted by a ring of hairs; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 35–70 mm long overall; with twisted column; deciduous; limb plumose; with 3–5 mm long hairs. Column of lemma awn pubescent, or hirtellous; with 0.4–1 mm long hairs. 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. Hilum linear.

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

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Pak 1993.

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