Stipagrostis grandiglumis

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Roots woolly. Culms erect; 40–50 cm long. Culm-internodes distally glabrous. Lateral branches lacking. Leaf-sheaths smooth; glabrous on surface. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades filiform; involute; 1 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface smooth; glabrous. Leaf-blade apex acuminate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; ovate; 15–20 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Primary panicle branches 1 -nate.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 30–35 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1 mm long; pilose; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 30–35 mm long; 1.5–1.6 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 20–22 mm long; 2.7–3.3 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; 6–8 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 3 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex acute; awned; 3 -awned. Principal lemma awn 3-branched; with 20–25 mm long limb; with twisted column; deciduous; abscissing from top of lemma; limb plumose; with 4–5 mm long hairs; glabrescent towards tip. Column of lemma awn 2–3 mm long. Lateral lemma awns 20–25 mm long; subequal to principal; plumose.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: China and Mongolia.

NOTES Aristideae. Roshev 1996.

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