Stipa saikanica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms 30–35 cm long. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.3–0.4 mm long; pubescent on abaxial surface. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; 0.3–0.4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough abaxially; pubescent; densely hairy; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; subtended by an inflated leaf-sheath.

Panicle contracted; linear; 8–10 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 15–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1.5–1.8 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 15–20 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 7–9 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex surmounted by a ring of hairs; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 120–140 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb hirsute; with 1.8–2.3 mm long hairs. Column of lemma awn 35–40 mm long; glabrous. Palea without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 4.5–5 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia.

NOTES Stipeae. Kotuchov 2006.

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