Stipa przewalskyi

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped moderately, or densely. Culms erect; 70–100 cm long; 2–3 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–4 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 10–20 cm long; 1.5–2 mm wide.

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

Panicle open; elliptic; 15–25 cm long. Primary panicle branches 2–4 -nate; whorled at most nodes; 4–9 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 10–15 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus 1 mm long; bearded; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 10–15 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; 1-keeled. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 10–15 mm long; membranous; 1-keeled. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 8.5–9.5 mm long; membranous; without keel. Lemma surface pilose; hairy below. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex surmounted by a ring of hairs; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 40–60 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn glabrous, or hispidulous. Palea without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China and Mongolia.

NOTES Stipeae. Roshevitz 1996.

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