Stipa roborowskyi

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 25–40 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–4 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 1–1.5 mm wide.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 14–18 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches appressed. Panicle branches stiff; straight.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 12–16 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1–3 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; 12–16 mm long; membranous; purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 7–8 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex without appendage, or surmounted by a ring of hairs; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 35–60 mm long overall; with twisted column; deciduous; limb plumose; with 1–1.5 mm long hairs. Column of lemma awn plumose; with 1–1.5 mm long hairs. Palea 1 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: China. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Pak 1993.

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