Stipa zaissanica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms 60–80 cm long. Culm-internodes distally pubescent. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; scaberulous; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3–5 mm long; 6.5 mm long on basal shoots; glabrous on abaxial surface, or pubescent on abaxial surface. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; 0.5–0.6 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough abaxially; puberulous; densely hairy; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear; 30–50 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 20–25 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1.5–2 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 20–25 mm long; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 20–25 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 9–10 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy in lines (5 lines). Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex surmounted by a ring of hairs; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 90–110 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb hirsute; with 2–2.5 mm long hairs. Column of lemma awn 15–17 mm long; puberulous. Palea without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 3.5–4 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Siberia.

NOTES Stipeae. Kotuchov 2006.

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