Stipa pontica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface, or puberulous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–4 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex acuminate; simple.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 40–55 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; curved; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Lower glume awn 40–55 mm long. Upper glume lanceolate; 40–55 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex attenuate; awned; 1 -awned. Upper glume awn 40–55 mm long.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 16–18 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy in lines. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea; ciliate. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 250–400 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb plumose; with 5 mm long hairs. Palea 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southeastern and eastern. Asia-temperate: Caucasus and western Asia.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Turk 1993.

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