Stipagrostis karelinii

HABIT Perennial. Roots woolly. Culms 80–150 cm long. Ligule a fringe of hairs. Leaf-blades 15–30 cm long; 2–4 mm wide; coriaceous. Leaf-blade surface ribbed.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open; elliptic; effuse; 20–40 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets linear; subterete; 15–20 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 1 mm long; pubescent; hairy on the margins; with longer hairs above; acute.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 15–20 mm long; 1.1–1.2 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 14–18 mm long; 2 length of adjacent fertile lemma; membranous; without keels; 3 -veined. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma oblong; 7–10 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 15–20 mm long limb; with twisted column; deciduous; abscissing from top of lemma; limb plumose; glabrescent towards tip. Column of lemma awn 1–2 mm long. Lateral lemma awns 15–20 mm long; subequal to principal; plumose (except tip). Palea 0.33 length of lemma; without keels.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: eastern. Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia.

NOTES Aristideae. Fl USSR 1993.

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