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Descriptions

W.D. Clayton, M. Vorontsova, K.T. Harman & H. Williamson

© Copyright The Board of Trustees, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Stipa pekinensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Cataphylls evident. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm. Culms erect; 70–150 cm long; 2.5–4 mm diam.; 3–4 -noded. Leaf-sheaths loose. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5–1 mm long; erose; truncate. Leaf-blades involute; 30–60 cm long; 7–15 mm wide; stiff. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous, or pubescent; hairy adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic, or ovate; loose, or effuse; 15–40 cm long; 2–4 cm wide. Primary panicle branches 2–6 -nate; 4–12 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 8–11 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.5 mm long; pubescent; obtuse.

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 surface glabrous to pubescent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 8–11 mm long; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume surface glabrous to pubescent. Upper glume apex obtuse, or acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 6–8 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins convergent above. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; bigeniculate; 20–25 mm long overall; with twisted column. Palea 5 mm long; 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; 4–6 mm long; anther tip penicillate. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; 4–5 mm long. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet far east, China, and eastern Asia.

NOTES Stipeae. Koyama 1994.

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