Stipa pelliotii

HABIT Perennial. Rhizomes elongated; scaly. Culms erect; 25–30 cm long. Culm-internodes channelled; distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths 1–6 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs, or absent. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 3–10 cm long; 1 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse. Primary panicle branches 2 -nate. Panicle branches capillary.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 5–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 5–6 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate; 5 mm long; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Upper glume lateral veins absent. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 3.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 1 -veined. Lemma surface villous. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 25–30 mm long overall; with twisted column; deciduous; limb plumose. Column of lemma awn plumose. Palea 3.25 mm long; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface hirsute.

FLOWER Anthers 3; anther tip smooth. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China and Mongolia.

NOTES Stipeae. Danguy 1996.

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