Stipa klimesii M. Nobis, 2014

Nobis, Marcin, Nobis, Agnieszka, Nowak, Arkadiusz & Nowak, Sylwia, 2014, Stipa klimesii (Poaceae), a new species from Western Himalayas (India), Phytotaxa 174 (3), pp. 173-180 : 174-176

Stipa klimesii M. Nobis , sp. nov. ( Figs. 1–2 )

= Stipa basiplumosa var. longearistata Munro ex Hooker f. (1896: 229). Type:— Tibet Occ., Thomson s.n. (holotype K!).

Type:— INDIA. NW India, Jammu and Kashmir State, Ladakh, Indus Vy : Zhung (Leh), Ganglas – upper part, springs with drinking water, 3880–4000 m a.s.l., 30 July 2001, 34°12.3’N / 77°36.8’E, L . Klimeš 1155, 1156 (holotype KRA!, isotype PRA!) .

The new species is similar to Stipa roborowskyi , but differs by its longer anthecium [(7–)8.3–9.5(–10.5) vs. (6–)6.5– 7.5(–7.7) mm], longer ligules of vegetative shoots [(2–)3.5–7.5(–9) vs. 0.5–1.5(–2) mm], longer hairs on seta [(1–)1.3–2(–2.3) vs. (0.3–)0.5–1.1(–1.4) mm], and shorter awn [(25–)35–45(–52) vs. (40–)47–60(–68) mm]. Stipa klimesii is also similar to S. purpurea , but differs by longer ligules of vegetative shoots [(2–)3.5–7.5(–9) vs. (0.5–) 1–3 mm], shorter awn [(25–)35–45(–52) vs. (55–)65–90(–120) mm], slightly shorter hairs on seta [(1–)1.3–2(–2.4) vs. 2–3 mm] and by the character of the panicle, which is compressed with straight branches in S. klimesii vs. lax with flexuous branches in S. purpurea .

Perennial plant, densely tufted, with a few culms and numerous vegetative shoots; culms 15–48 cm tall, with 1(–2) node in the lower part of culm. Leaves of vegetative shoots: sheaths glabrous or shortly pilose with white edge, glabrous at margins; ligules membranous, (2–)3.5–7.5(–9) mm long, acute or obtuse, the apex with very short cilia, and shortly setulose on the back; blades convolute, green to pale green, 10–20 cm long, 0.20–0.45 mm in diameter, adaxial surface covered by up to 0.15 mm long hairs, abaxial surface glabrous to slightly scabrous. Cauline leaves: sheaths glabrous or shortly pilose, the margins white and glabrous, upper sheath of culms uninflated; ligules (1.5–)2.5–8(–9) mm long, acute or obtuse, at the apex with very short cilia, and shortly setulose on the back; blades convolute, green or pale green, up to 10 cm long, adaxial surface shortly pilose and abaxial surface slightly scabrous. Panicle (5–) 8–20 cm long, contracted, with (5–)10–20 spikelets, exserted, branches erect, setulose, single or paired, the lower ones up to 50 mm long. Glumes subequal, pale green to purple, lower glume (12.5–)14–16(–18) mm long, upper glume (11.5–)13–15.5(–17.5) mm long, lanceolate, tapering into a long hyaline apex, glabrous or setulose at dorsal line. Anthecium (7–)8.3–9.5(–10.5) mm long, 0.6–0.8 mm wide. Callus 1.4–2 mm long, densely and long-pilose, hairs 0.6–1 mm long; base of callus dorsally flattened and long protruding, peripheral ring 0.15–0.20 mm in diameter, scar narrowly elliptic. Lemma pale green to purple, on dorsal surface completely covered by abundant hooks and ascending hairs 0.5–0.7 mm long, apex with abundant or scattered hairs 0.5–1.0(–1.3) mm long. Awn (25–)35–45(–52) mm long, bigeniculate; column (4–)5–10(–12) mm long, twisted, 0.2(–0.3) mm wide, green or straw-coloured, pilose, hairs (1.3–)1.5–2(–2.4) mm long, gradually decreasing in length towards geniculation; middle segment of awn 5–8 mm long, pilose, hairs (1–) 1.4–2 mm long, gradually decreasing in length towards geniculation; seta slightly arcuate or straight, (15–)20–30(–38) mm long, hairs in lower part of seta (1–)1.3–2(–2.3) mm long, gradually decreasing in length towards apex. Palea equal to lemma in length, with a dorsal line of hairs. Anthers yellow or purple, glabrous, 3.8–5.7 mm long. Lodicules 3. Ovary with 2 styles. Caryopsis 5–7 mm long.

Distribution and ecology:― Stipa klimesii is known only from Jammu and Kashmir State in northern India (Western Himalayas). It is probable that the species may be found in the neighbouring areas of Tibet, where similar habits occur. The species grows in high mountain steppes and alpine mats, between 4200 and 5100 m a.s.l.

Etymology:―The name of the species honors the collector Dr. Leoš Klimeš, the eminent Czech botanist and researcher of the flora and vegetation of Ladakh (NW India), who went missing on expedition in 2007.

Note: ―Based on the detailed description of Stipa basiplumosa var. longearistata prepared by Freitag (1985), and examination of the holotype (holotype in K!, digital image), this taxon is conspecific with S. klimesii [not with S. roborowskyi as it was treated by Cope (1982), Freitag (1985) and Tzvelev (1968)] and should be regarded as its synonym. The new taxon could not be named S. longearistata , because this is the name of an Australian species, S. longearistata Steudel (1854: 127) .

Additional specimens examined (paratypes):— INDIA. NW India, Jammu and Kashmir State, Ladakh. Zanskar: Zara, confluence of Zara Chu and Lungmocha N of Sangtha village , 4450–4460 m a.s.l., 31 August 2001, 33°20.5’N / 77°42.8’E, L . Klimeš 1450 ( PRA); Rupshu: Parang Vy, Parang Vy , 4560 m a.s.l., 20 July 2000, 32°40.5’N / 78°22.8’E, L . Klimeš 948 ( PRA); Indus Vy: Stot ( E), Nyi [Nior Nis; Njurnis] to Neboche , 4600–4700 m a.s.l., 02 September 2005, 32°28.13’N / 78°14.25’E, L . Klimeš 6178 ( PRA); Rupshu: Tso Moriri, Lapgo River Valley , 4810 m a.s.l., 11 July 2000, 32°58.7’N / 78°21.3’E, L . Klimeš 889 ( PRA); Rupshu : Samad Rokchen, descent from Shibuk to the S, 4870–4930 m a.s.l., 4 August 2001, 33°16.5’N / 77°50.8’E, L . Klimeš 1248 ( PRA); Shyok: W & C , Phyang to Khardung, 4710–4750 m a.s.l., 5 September 2002, 34°22.4’N / 77°35.28’E, L . Klimeš 2633 ( PRA); Indus Vy: Stot ( E), Shurok Sumdo : slopes W of the place, 5000–5020 m a.s.l., 12 August 2002, 33°2.6’N / 78°32.3’E, L . Klimeš 2105 ( PRA); Indus Vy: Stot ( E), Sultak Tso , 4900 m a.s.l., 18 September 2003, 33°34.2’N / 78°14.4’E, L . Klimeš 3535 ( PRA); Zanskar: Markha, Nimaling plains to Thachungtse , 4720–4790 m a.s.l., 7 September 2001, 33°48.1’N / 77°34’E, L . Klimeš 1617 ( PRA); Indus Vy: Stot ( E), Puga – ascent to Zoboshisha , 4530 m a.s.l., 8 July 2000, 33°13’N / 78°17.9’E, L . Klimeš 878 ( PRA) .

Morphological variation:―Based on variation in the pubescence of sheaths of culm leaves, two varieties of Stipa klimesii can be distinguished: var. klimesii with glabrous sheaths of culm leaves, and var. pubescens with shortly pubescent sheaths of culm leaves. The latter taxon is known only from the type collection.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Selected morphological characters of Stipa klimesii (from the type). A. Panicle. B. General habit. C. Awns with anthecia. D. Abaxial surface of leaves. E. Adaxial surface of leaves. F. Upper part of anthecium. G. Callus. Scale bars: A–C: 1 cm, G: 1 mm.

FIGURE 2. Micromorphology of the callus and the dorsal surface of lemma (superior and lateral view) in Stipa klimesii (A–C), S. roborowskyi (D–F), and S. purpurea (G–I). Abbreviations: h – hook, l – long cell, mh – macrohair, p – prickle, s – silica body, c – cork cell. All hooks are orientated to the distal apex. Stipa klimesii – India, L. Klimeš 1155, 1156 (KRA), S. roborowskyi – China, Xinjiang, Qiemo Xian, Konqibulaker, 19 July 1988, S.G. Wu, H. Ohba, Y.H. Wu, Y. Fei s.n. (MOIS 4373370); S. purpurea – Kyrgyzstan, Naryn distr., Kei-Suu, 15 August 1986, Abdarova s.n. (FRU).