Stipa tigrensis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 30–50 cm long. Leaves mostly basal. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 1 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 15–20 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; pubescent; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 5–15 cm long. Panicle branches pubescent.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 8–12 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; curved; 1.5 mm long; bearded; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 8–12 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 8–12 mm long; 1.3–1.7 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 6–7 mm long; membranous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface scaberulous; rough above; pilose. Lemma margins flat; covering most of palea. Lemma apex emarginate, or truncate; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 50 mm long overall; with twisted column; deciduous. Column of lemma awn hirsute; with 1 mm long hairs. Palea oblong; 0.5 length of lemma; hyaline; 2 -veined; without keels. Palea surface glabrous.

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

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Embryo 0.1–0.2 length of caryopsis. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Africa: northeast tropical and east tropical. Asia-temperate: Arabia.

NOTES Stipeae. FTEA.

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