Stipa splendens

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with fibrous dead sheaths. Culms robust; 50–250 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2.5–10 mm long. Leaf-blades flat, or involute; 20–45 cm long; 4–10 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; dense, or loose; 15–50 cm long; 10–35 cm wide. Primary panicle branches whorled at most nodes.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 5–6 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus 0.3 mm long; pubescent; obtuse.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume elliptic; 4–4.5 mm long; 0.7–0.8 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 1 -veined. Lower glume lateral veins absent. Lower glume apex acute. Upper glume elliptic; 5–6 mm long; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acute.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 4.8–5.7 mm long; membranous; without keel. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; with lobes 0.5–1.3 mm long; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn straight, or geniculate; 6–12 mm long overall; with a straight or slightly twisted column. 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 Europe: eastern. Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet Middle Asia, western Asia, China, and Mongolia. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Pak 1993.

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