Stipa kotuchovii

HABIT Perennial; caespitose. Butt sheaths persistent and investing base of culm; with compacted dead sheaths. Culms 60–70 cm long. Leaf-sheaths mostly shorter than adjacent culm internode; puberulous. Ligule a ciliolate membrane; 1.5–4.5 mm long; pubescent on abaxial surface. Leaf-blades filiform; conduplicate; 0.3–0.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface scaberulous; rough abaxially; puberulous; hairy adaxially.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle.

Panicle open, or contracted; lanceolate; 17–25 cm long.

Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 20–22 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus elongated; 2–2.5 mm long; pubescent; pungent.

GLUMES Glumes persistent; similar; exceeding apex of florets; thinner than fertile lemma. Lower glume lanceolate; 20–22 mm long; membranous; without keels. Lower glume primary vein scabrous. Lower glume apex acuminate. Upper glume lanceolate; 20–22 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume primary vein scabrous. Upper glume apex acuminate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma elliptic; subterete; 7.5–9 mm long; coriaceous; without keel. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy in lines. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex surmounted by a ring of hairs; awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 70–90 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb pubescent; with 0.5–0.7 mm long hairs. Column of lemma awn 25–30 mm long; puberulous. Palea without keels.

FLOWER Anthers 3; 5–5.2 mm long.

DISTRIBUTION Asia-temperate: Soviet Middle Asia.

NOTES Stipeae. Kotuchov 2006.

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