Stipa fallacina

HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 80–85 cm long; 1.2 mm diam.; 3–4 -noded. Culm-internodes distally pubescent. Leaf-sheaths scaberulous; glabrous on surface. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 0.4–0.6 mm long; obtuse. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; 50–70 cm long; 0.8–1 mm wide; grey-green. Leaf-blade surface puberulous; hairy on both sides. Leaf-blade apex attenuate.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 7–8 fertile spikelets. Peduncle pilose above.

Panicle open, or contracted; linear, or lanceolate; 13–16 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Panicle branches hispidulous.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 40–55 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 1 length of upper glume; membranous; without keels. Lower glume surface glabrous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 40–55 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume surface glabrous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 11–14 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy on veins; with conspicuous apical hairs. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea; pubescent. Lemma hairs 0.5 mm long. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 290–320 mm long overall; with 190–230 mm long limb; with twisted column; limb plumose; with 3 mm long hairs. Column of lemma awn 85–100 mm long; ciliate; hairy on upper part. Palea without keels.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform; 7 mm long. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: eastern.

NOTES Stipeae. Klok. & Oss. 2006.

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