Stipagrostis

Stipagrostis is a genus of grass in the family Poaceae. Species within this genus are distributed in sub-Saharan Africa, temperate and tropical Asis and parts of Europe. In some areas such as the Namib Desert, certain species are involved in the creation of cryptic geometric "fairy circles", whose origins are in debate.

Inflorescence manifests as a panicle. subtended by an unspecialized leaf-sheath. Lower glumes are almost always persistent and exceed the apex of florets; glumes are generally thinner than fertile lemmas. Glumes are almost always lanceolate and without keels.

Annuals or perennials, with a knotty rhizomatous base. Inflorescence a narrow, often spike-like, terminal panicle. Spikelets 1-flowered, disarticulating above the glumes; floret bisexual equalling or shorter than the glumes. Glumes persistent, (1-)3(-11)-nerved, equal or unequal, acuminate to obtuse. Lemma cylindric, 3-nerved, becoming indurate at maturity, articulation present; basal callus densely barbate or glabrous; awns 3; at least the central awn plumose, or, if glabrous, then with a penicil of hairs at the base of the column.

Stipagrostis is a genus of African, Asian, and Russian plants in the grass family.

Species Stipagrostis acutiflora Stipagrostis amabilis Stipagrostis anomala Stipagrostis arachnoidea Stipagrostis brachyathera Stipagrostis brevifolia Stipagrostis ciliata Stipagrostis damarensis Stipagrostis dhofariensis Stipagrostis dinteri Stipagrostis drarii Stipagrostis dregeana Stipagrostis fastigiata Stipagrostis foexiana Stipagrostis garubensis Stipagrostis geminifolia Stipagrostis giessii Stipagrostis gonatostachys Stipagrostis grandiglumis Stipagrostis griffithii Stipagrostis hermannii Stipagrostis hirtigluma Stipagrostis hochstetteriana Stipagrostis karelinii Stipagrostis lanata Stipagrostis lanipes Stipagrostis libyca Stipagrostis lutescens Stipagrostis masirahensis Stipagrostis multinerva Stipagrostis namaquensis Stipagrostis namibensis Stipagrostis obtusa Stipagrostis paradisea Stipagrostis pellytronis Stipagrostis pennata Stipagrostis plumosa Stipagrostis prodigiosa Stipagrostis proxima Stipagrostis pungens Stipagrostis raddiana Stipagrostis ramulosa Stipagrostis rigidifolia Stipagrostis sabulicola Stipagrostis sahelica Stipagrostis schaeferi Stipagrostis scoparia Stipagrostis seelyae Stipagrostis shawii Stipagrostis sokotrana Stipagrostis subacaulis Stipagrostis uniplumis Stipagrostis vexillifeta Stipagrostis vulnerans Stipagrostis xylosa Stipagrostis zeyheri