Stipa styriaca

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms robust; 100–150 cm long. Leaf-sheaths smooth, or scaberulous; pubescent; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane. Leaf-blades convolute; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade venation with 9–10 inner ridges. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex smooth, or hairy.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 60 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 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; 60 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 18–20 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below; hairy in lines. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 370–410 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb plumose. Middle segment of lemma awn 22–25 mm long; glabrous. Column of lemma awn 60–72 mm long. Palea without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: central.

NOTES Stipeae. Martinovsky 1995.

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