Unique plants from Romania (Part 15)

Colilia Porţilor de Fier (Stipa danubialis), is a Tertiary relict described for the first time in 1969 and found only at Cracul Găioara, a place in Banat, Southwestern Romania.

Plantae
Magnoliophyta
Liliopsida
Cyperales
Poaceae
Stipa
Stipa danubialis (Dihoru & Roman)


Image from MyNature
HABIT Perennial; caespitose; clumped densely. Culms 80–90 cm long; 5 -noded. Culm-internodes distally pubescent. Leaf-sheaths longer than adjacent culm internode; retrorsely scabrous. Ligule an eciliate membrane; 3.5–7 mm long. Leaf-blades 2.3–2.5 mm wide. Leaf-blade surface ribbed; scabrous; rough adaxially; glabrous.

INFLORESCENCE Inflorescence a panicle; comprising 9–12 fertile spikelets. Panicle open; 9–15 cm long; bearing few spikelets. Spikelets solitary. Fertile spikelets pedicelled.

FERTILE SPIKELETS Spikelets comprising 1 fertile florets; without rhachilla extension. Spikelets lanceolate; subterete; 48–57 mm long; breaking up at maturity; disarticulating below each fertile floret. Floret callus evident; acute.

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; 48–57 mm long; membranous; without keels. Upper glume apex setaceously attenuate.

FLORETS Fertile lemma lanceolate; subterete; 23–25 mm long; coriaceous; without keel; 5 -veined. Lemma surface pubescent; hairy in lines. Lemma margins convolute; covering most of palea. Lemma apex awned; 1 -awned. Principal lemma awn bigeniculate; 286–363 mm long overall; with twisted column; limb plumose; with 5 mm long hairs. Middle segment of lemma awn 6–20 mm long; ciliate. Column of lemma awn 40–48 mm long; pubescent; with 2 mm long hairs. Palea without keels.

FLOWER Lodicules 3. Anthers 3. Stigmas 2. Ovary glabrous.
FRUIT Caryopsis with adherent pericarp; fusiform. Hilum linear.

(From Kew Gardens)