Stipa turkestanica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm. Culms 30–70 cm long. Leaf-sheaths outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–4 mm long. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 2–4.5 cm long; 1–1.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough abaxially.

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

Panicle contracted; linear; 8–14 cm long; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 27–45 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 2.5 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma; shiny. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 27–45 mm long; membranous; without keels; 5 -veined. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 11–13 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy below; hairy in lines. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 11–16 mm long overall; with twisted column; deciduous; limb plumose; with 4–5 mm long hairs. Column of lemma awn glabrous. 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: Soviet Middle Asia and western Asia. Asia-tropical: India.

NOTES Stipeae. Fl Pak 1993.

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