Stipa novakii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms 25–40 cm long. Culm-internodes distally pubescent. Leaf-sheaths puberulous. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 2.5–4 mm long; 1 mm long on basal shoots; pubescent on abaxial surface. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; 25–50 cm long; 1–2 mm wide; stiff; glaucous. Leaf-blade venation with 9 inner ridges. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; with rectangular ribs; scabrous; rough adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 7 fertile spikelets.

Panicle contracted; linear; bearing few spikelets.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 35–55 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; pungent.

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 apex setaceously attenuate. Upper glume lanceolate; 35–55 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 14–15 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 130–160 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb plumose. Palea 1 length of lemma; 2 -veined; without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3; anther tip smooth. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.

FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Hilum linear.

DISTRIBUTION Europe: southeastern.

NOTES Stipeae. Martinovsky 1995.

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