宜红针茅 yi hong zhen mao

Perennial, tufted. Culms erect or geniculate at base, 15–50 cm tall, 2-noded. Leaf sheaths shorter than internodes; leaf blades grayish green, setaceous, abaxial surface smooth, glabrous; ligule of basal leaves 0.1–0.4 mm, of culm leaves 1–1.5 mm. Panicle contracted, 6–8 cm, base enclosed in uppermost leaf sheath. Spikelets tinged purplish; glumes subequal, 2.2–2.6 cm, hyaline, apex long acuminate; callus short; lemma 8–10 mm, hairy in longitudinal lines, hairs denser in lower part, a ring of short hairs at awn articulation; awn deciduous, 8–11 cm, pubescent, 1(or 2)-geniculate, hairs on column 0.2–0.4 mm, bristle slightly flexuous, hairs 0.4–0.7 cm. Fl. and fr. May–Jul.

Open stony slopes; 1500–2500 m. Xinjiang [Mongolia (Altay), Russia (Altay)].

This species has sometimes been considered conspecific with Stipa koelzii (a synonym of S. capillacea in this treatment), but it has much larger glumes lacking filamentous tips and more clearly pubescent, non-spiralling awns. It also grows in drier habitats.