Stipa subsessiliflora

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 10–35 cm long. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 2–4 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth, or scaberulous; rough abaxially. Leaf-blade apex hardened.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 4–12 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 8.5–11.5 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; 0.5–0.8 mm long; pubescent; unequally 2-toothed.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 8.5–11.5 mm long; 1.1–1.2 length of upper glume; membranous; purple; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Lower glume apex acute, or acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 7.5–9.5 mm long; membranous; purple; without keels; 3–5 -veined. Upper glume apex acute, or acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 4–5.5 mm long; membranous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy all along. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 10–27 mm long overall; with twisted column; deciduous; limb glabrous. Column of lemma awn plumose; with 2.5–3.5 mm long hairs. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet Middle Asia, and China. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Pak 1993.

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