Stipa platypoda

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long. Culm-internodes distally hispid; with reflexed hairs. Lateral branches lacking. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades involute; 10–20 cm long; 3–7 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough adaxially. Leaf-blade margins scabrous. Leaf-blade apex pungent.

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

Panicle open; elliptic; 10–20 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 50–60 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1–2 mm long; glabrous; expanded.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 50–60 mm long; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 50–60 mm long; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 10–15 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pilose; hairy between veins; with conspicuous apical hairs. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea; ciliate. Lemma hairs 1.5 mm long (at apex). Lemma apex acute; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 50–60 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb ciliate; with 1 mm long hairs; glabrescent towards tip. Column of lemma awn glabrous, or puberulous. Palea 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: western Asia.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Iran 1997.

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