Stipa staintonii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms erect; 30–60 cm long. Leaf-sheaths tight; retrorsely scabrous; glabrous on surface; outer margin hairy. Leaf-sheath oral hairs bearded. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.75 mm long. Leaf-blades involute; 15–35 cm long; 2–3 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; nodding; 10–15 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 11–13 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.75 mm long; pubescent; unequally 2-toothed.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 11–13 mm long; 1.2–1.3 length of upper glume; hyaline; purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume elliptic; 8–11 mm long; hyaline; purple; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 5.5 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pilose. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma hairs 2–3 mm long. Lemma apex dentate; 2 -fid; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn from a sinus; bigeniculate; 30–40 mm long overall; with twisted column. Column of lemma awn glabrous. Palea 0.75 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface pilose; hairy on back.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; 2.5 mm long; anther tip penicillate. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Stipeae. Bor 1994.

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