Stipa sosnowskyi

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms geniculately ascending; 15–30 cm long; 2 -noded. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 4.5–6 mm long; acute. Leaf-blades filiform; convolute; 4–8 cm long; 0.3 mm wide; glaucous. Leaf-blade surface ribbed.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled. Pedicels puberulous.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 18–22 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus brief; pubescent; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 18–22 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 8–9 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 55–70 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb pubescent. Middle segment of lemma awn pubescent. Column of lemma awn pubescent. Palea without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Caucasus.

NOTES Stipeae. Seredin 1995.

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