Stipa psilanthera

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms erect; 40–60 cm long; 1–1.5 mm diam.; 2–3 -noded. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; smooth. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.5 mm long; scarious; entire, or erose; truncate. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 8–12 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 5–12 cm long; 1 cm wide. Primary panicle branches ascending; 1–2.5 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; laterally compressed; 6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus 0.3 mm long; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets. Lower glume lanceolate; 6 mm long; 0.9 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 6 mm long; membranous; purple; 1-keeled; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 4 mm long; membranous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma lateral veins meeting above. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; geniculate; 15 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn glabrous. Palea 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface pubescent; hairy on back.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 2 mm long; anther tip smooth. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China.

NOTES Stipeae. Keng 1996.

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