Stipa bhutanica Noltie (1999: 289)

Zhang, Zhong-Shuai, Zhu, Xiang-Yun, Li, Ling-Lu, Jiang, Shan-Wen & Chen, Wen-Li, 2016, A new synonym of Ptilagrostis yadongensis and a new record of Stipa bhutanica to the flora of China (Poaceae), Phytotaxa 272 (1), pp. 94-96 : 95-96

Stipa bhutanica Noltie (1999: 289)

Type:— BHUTAN. Ha: W side of Chelai La, 29 September 1998, H. J. Noltie, N. Pradhan, Sherub & T. Wangdi 349 (holotype E, isotype THIM).

= Ptilagrostis macrospicula Cai (2003: 2018 , p.p. incl. Qinghai-Xizang Exped. 74–2674).

Perennial, forming small dense tussocks. Culms 8–54 cm tall, ca. 0.7–1.5 mm in diam., 2-noded. Leaf blades setaceous, 6–28 cm long; culm ligules lanceolate, 2–7.5 mm long. Panicles linear, 5–15 × 0.7–1 cm, lowermost branches subtended by 2 membranous bracts or not, the bracts ca. 0.8–4.6 mm long, lanceolate or linear, lower branches paired, suberect, panicles with 5–16 spikelets. Spikelets usually purplish; glumes lanceolate, 8.5–11 mm long, subequal, or lower glumes slightly shorter than upper glumes, veins inconspicuous; lemmas 6.5–8.5 mm long, glabrous in middle part, gradually pubescent toward base and apex; awns 12–19 mm long, 1-geniculate, hairs below the bend 0.4–0.9 mm long gradually decreasing, scabrous above with 0.1 mm long hairs; paleas shorter than lemmas by 0.5–1.5 mm, 2-veined. Caryopses ca. 4.5 mm long, narrow fusiform, with the widest part in the lower 1/3. Anthers 1.4–2.0 mm long, glabrous at apex.

Ecological notes:— Stipa bhutanica grows in alpine grassland and thickets and we observed members of this species are in fruit during August–October.

Other examined specimens:— CHINA. Sichuan: Haizi-Shan , 3700 m, 29 August 1934, C. S. Liu 1426 ( PE) ; Batang , 4500 m, 21 September 1973, Sichuan Veg. Exped. 4323 ( CDBI) ; Kangding , 3574 m, 30°01.213 ′ N, 100°30.412 ′ E, 29 September 2014, Z. S. Zhang & L. L. Li 364 ( PE) ; Litang , 4123 m, 24 September 2014, Zhang & Li 321 ( PE) ; 4200 m, 23 August 1982, W. Hou 29443 ( CDBI) ; 4058 m, 30°06.250 ′ N, 100°05.056 ′ E, 24 September 2014, Zhang & Li 331 ( PE) ; 3701 m, 30°43.215 ′ N, 100°25.105 ′ E, 26 September 2014, Zhang & Li 342 ( PE) ; Muli , 3700 m, 7 September 1963, Qinghai-Xizang Exped. 14488 ( PE) ; Puge , 3851 m, 27°37.479 ′ N, 102°20.245 ′ E, 2 October 2014, Zhang & Li 384 ( PE) ; 3700 m, 24 September 1965, The Chinese Academy of Sciences Southwest Border Exped. 1033 ( PE) ; Yunnan: Shangri-Lah , 3410 m, 27°34. 531 ′ N, 99°50.653 ′ E, 19 September 2014, Zhang & Li 274 ( PE) ; Xizang: Yadong , 4300 m, 18 September 1974, Qinghai-Xizang Exped. 74-2674 ( PE) ; 4203 m, 16 August 2015, Zhang 601 ( PE) . BHUTAN. summit of Chelai-la , 12,800 ft, July 1983, Keith 173 ( K) ; Ha / Thimphu district, Chelela , 13,000 ft, 4 April 1986. D. J. Miller 185 ( K) .