Stipa zuvantica

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms erect; 40–75 cm long. Culm-internodes distally pubescent. Leaves basal and cauline. Leaf-sheaths pilose; outer margin hairy. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 8–14 mm long; 1.5–3 mm long on basal shoots; acute. Leaf-blades conduplicate; 2–4 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scabrous; rough abaxially; pubescent; densely hairy; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle contracted; linear.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 30–40 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; subequal in width; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous. Lower glume apex attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 30–40 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma linear to lanceolate; subterete; 13–15 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pilose; hairy above; hairy in lines. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 190–220 mm long overall; with 140–160 mm long limb; with twisted column; limb pubescent; with 0.6–0.8 mm long hairs. Column of lemma awn scabrous. Palea 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Caucasus.

NOTES Stipeae. Tsvelev 1996.

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