Stipa purpurea

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 15–25(–40) cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3.5–5 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 0.5–1 mm wide. Leaf-blade apex hardened.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; lanceolate; 6–12 cm long; 1–2 cm wide; bearing few spikelets. Panicle branches capillary; flexuous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 15–25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1.5–2.2 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 15–25 mm long; membranous; purple; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 9–11 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 60–85 mm long overall; with twisted column; deciduous; limb plumose; with 2–3 mm long hairs. Column of lemma awn plumose; with 2–3 mm long hairs. Palea 0.9 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; anther tip smooth. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia and China. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Pak 1993.

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