Stipa

Stipa is a genus of around 300 large perennial hermaphroditic grasses collectively known as feather grass, needle grass, and spear grass. They are placed in the subfamily Pooideae and the tribe Stipeae, which also contains many species formerly assigned to Stipa, which have since been reclassified into new genera.

For other senses of this term, see Speech transmission index, Luigi Stipa, Stipa-Caproni

Stipa
Green needle grass,
Stipa viridula
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Clade: Commelinids
Order: Poales
Family: Poaceae
Subfamily: Pooideae
Supertribe: Stipodae
Tribe: Stipeae
Genus: Stipa
L.[1]
Species

Some 300, see text.

Synonyms
  • Lasiagrostis Link
  • Orthoraphium Nees
  • Patis Ohwi
  • Sparteum P.Beauv., nom. inval.
  • Stupa Asch., orth. var.
  • Timouria Roshev.
  • Trichosantha Steud., nom. inval.[1]

Many species are important forage crops. Several species such as Stipa brachytricha, S. arundinacea, S. splendens, S. calamagrostis, S. gigantea and S. pulchra are used as ornamental plants. One former species, esparto grass (Macrochloa tenacissima), is used for crafts and extensively in paper making.

It is a coarse grass with inrolled leaves and a panicle patterened inflorescence.[2]

Ecology

Species of the genus Stipa can occur in grasslands[3] or in savanna habitats. Certain specific prairie plant associations are dominated by grasses of the genus Stipa, which genus often lends its name to the terminology of some prairie types.[4] In some areas of the western United States grasses of the genus Stipa form a significant part of the understory of Blue Oak savannas, and were even a more important element prehistorically before the invasion of many European grasses.[5]

Selected species

Formerly placed here
Main article: Stipeae
gollark: It's a bit close to aeons, I think.
gollark: We need more time dragons. Some vague ideas:Hourglass Dragons (no idea, sounds cool)Clock Pygmies (pygmies which make clocks)Oracle Dragons (two-headed, one head can see into the past, one into the future)
gollark: You can probably trade them for non-pyro xenowyrms.
gollark: Well, our xenowyrm overlords *are* our xenowyrm overlords, after all.
gollark: Oh, pyrovars?

See also

References
  1. "Genus: Stipa L." Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 1998-09-14. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  2. Morley, Thomas (1966). Spring Flora of Minnesota. The University of Minnesota Press. p. 47.
  3. Elgaily Osman Ahmed, 1983
  4. Ecological Society of America, 1921
    • C. Michael Hogan, 2008
  6. English Names for Korean Native Plants (PDF). Pocheon: Korea National Arboretum. 2015. p. 647. ISBN 978-89-97450-98-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2017. Retrieved 24 December 2016 – via Korea Forest Service.
  7. "GRIN Species Records of Stipa". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
  • Data related to Stipa at Wikispecies
  • Media related to Stipa at Wikimedia Commons
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