Stipa penicillata

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Butt sheaths yellow; glossy; persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms erect; 20–40 cm long. Culm-internodes smooth; distally glabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–5 mm long; lacerate. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 10–20 cm long; 0.5–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 4 secondary veins. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; effuse; 10–15 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2 -nate.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels filiform; 10 mm long.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; laterally compressed; 7 mm long; 1 mm wide; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus acute; disarticulating obliquely.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 7 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 7 mm long; membranous; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 5 mm long; membranous; mid-green and purple; tipped with last colour; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn geniculate; 15–28 mm long overall; with 10–20 mm long limb; with twisted column; deciduous. Column of lemma awn 5–8 mm long; hirsute; with 3 mm long hairs. Palea without keels. Palea surface puberulous.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Stipeae. Hand-Maz 1996.

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