Stipa tirsa

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Culms 40–100 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Leaf-sheaths glabrous on surface. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 0.2–0.5 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 1–2 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface puberulous; hairy abaxially. Leaf-blade apex attenuate; filiform.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; embraced at base by subtending leaf.

Panicle contracted; linear.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 50–65 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; curved; pubescent; pungent.

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; 50–65 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 18–20 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy in lines. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 350–500 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb plumose. 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 Europe: central, southwestern, southeastern, and eastern. Asia-temperate: Siberia, Soviet Middle Asia, Caucasus, and western Asia.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Turk 1993.

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