Stipa x ladakhensis M. Nobis, Klichowska, A. Nowak & P.D. Gudkova, nothosp. nov.(S. klimesii x S. purpurea s.l.)

Nobis, Marcin, Krzempek, Marta, Nowak, Arkadiusz, Gudkova, Polina D. & Klichowska, Ewelina, 2022, Resurrection of Stipa tremula and taxonomy of the high-alpine species from the Stipa purpurea complex (Poaceae, Pooideae), PhytoKeys 196, pp. 21-47 : 21

Stipa x ladakhensis M. Nobis, Klichowska, A. Nowak & P.D. Gudkova, nothosp. nov.(S. klimesii x S. purpurea s.l.)

Fig. 5

Type.

NW India, Jammu and Kashmir State, Ladakh Region: Zanskar: Zara , Spangchen Do , alt. 4520 m, 1 Sep 2001, 33°22.7'N, 77°45.1'E, code 01-34-13, L. Klimeš 1474 (holotype KRA 603490!, isotypes PR!, KRA 603487!, 603486!)

Description.

Plant perennial, densely tufted, with a few culms and numerous vegetative shoots; culms 35-55 cm tall, 1-2-noded, nodes distributed close together and only in the lowermost part of the culm. Leaves of vegetative shoots: sheaths shortly and densely pubescent; ligules acute, on the external sheaths (1.0-)1.2-2.0(-2.8) mm long, whereas, on the internal sheaths (1.5-)2.0-4.0(-5.5) mm long; blades convolute, green, pale green to glaucous 10-25 cm long, 0.3-0.5 mm in diameter, adaxial surface covered by 0.15-0.2 mm long hairs, abaxial surface scabrous. Cauline leaves: lower sheaths shortly pubescent, upper scabrous or glabrous; ligules acute, (1.0-)2.0-4.0(-5.0) mm long; blades of convolute, green or pale green, adaxial surface shortly pubescent, abaxial surface scabrous or glabrous. Panicle 17-25 cm long, rather contracted, with 15-23 spikelets, at base enclosed by the sheath of the uppermost leaf or exerted, lower branches 2-6 cm long, straight or slightly flexuous, setulose or glabrous, single or paired. Glumes subequal, brownish to purplish, glumes 16-19(-20) mm long, narrowly lanceolate, tapering into long hyaline apex. Floret (lemma + callus) 8.5-10.2 mm long and 0.7-0.9 mm wide. Callus 1.5-1.9 mm long, densely and long-pilose, the base of callus narrow, peripheral ring 0.15-0.20 mm in diameter, acute, scar narrow elliptic. Lemma coriaceous, straw-coloured, brownish or purplish; covered throughout (from the bottom to top) by dense ascending to appressed hairs 0.2-0.4 mm long. Awn 46-58 mm long, bigeniculate, lower segment of the awn 8-11 mm long, twisted, with 1.7-2.3 mm long hairs, middle segment of the awn 4-9 mm long, twisted, with 1.6-2.2 mm long hairs; terminal segment of the awn (seta) flexuous 30-42 mm long with hairs shorter to equal to those on the column, 1.6-2.1 mm long, gradually decreasing in length towards the apex. Palea equalling lemma in length.

Habitat.

High mountain semi-deserts, on the elevation from 4000 to 5000 m.

Distribution.

W Himalayas (NW India).

Figures

Figure 5. The holotype of Stipa x ladakhensis M. Nobis, Klichowska, A. Nowak & P. D. Gudkova.