直芒草属 zhi mang cao shu

Stipa sect. Orthoraphium (Nees) Hackel.

Perennial. Leaf blades narrowly linear. Inflorescence a narrow panicle; branches erect. Spikelets with 1 floret, bisexual, disarticulating above glumes; rachilla extension absent; glumes lanceolate-oblong, unequal with upper longer, thinly papery, 3–5-veined, apex acute or obtuse; callus obtuse, shortly bearded; lemma narrowly lanceolate, slightly dorsally flattened, firmly papery, pilose, margins overlapping only toward apex, apex narrowed to cylindrical beak slightly exceeding upper glume and bearing 2 to several stout retrorse spines; awn persistent, almost straight, hispid at base, otherwise scabrid; palea exposed between lemma margins. Lodicules 3. Stamens 3, anthers glabrous. Stigmas 2.

One species: outer ranges of the Himalayas, including China.

Lower Taxon

• Orthoraphium roylei Nees