Stipa sibirica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Rootstock evident. Rhizomes short. Culms 60–150 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.4–0.9 mm long. Leaf-blades flat; 20–40 cm long; 3.5–8(–12) mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous, or scabrous; rough on both sides; puberulous; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; oblong; nodding; 10–40 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 7.5–10 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident, or elongated; 0.5–1 mm long; pubescent; unequally 2-toothed.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate, or elliptic; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; pallid, or mid-green; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume lanceolate, or elliptic; 7.5–10 mm long; 1.2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; pallid, or mid-green; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 6–8 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy all along. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex surmounted by a ring of hairs; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 13–20 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn puberulous; with 0.2 mm long hairs. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet far east, Soviet Middle Asia, Caucasus, western Asia, China, Mongolia, and eastern Asia. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Pak 1993.

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