''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species
[ of large ]perennial
In horticulture, the term perennial ('' per-'' + '' -ennial'', "through the year") is used to differentiate a plant from shorter-lived annuals and biennials. It has thus been defined as a plant that lives more than 2 years. The term is also ...
hermaphroditic
A hermaphrodite () is a sexually reproducing organism that produces both male and female gametes. Animal species in which individuals are either male or female are gonochoric, which is the opposite of hermaphroditic.
The individuals of many ...
grass
Poaceae ( ), also called Gramineae ( ), is a large and nearly ubiquitous family (biology), family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos, the grasses of natural grassland and spe ...
es collectively known as feather grass, needle grass, and spear grass. They are placed in the subfamily Pooideae
The Pooideae are the largest subfamily of the grass family (biology), family Poaceae, with about 4,000 species in 15 tribes and roughly 200 genera. They include some major cereals such as wheat, barley, oat, rye and many lawn and pasture grasses. ...
and the tribe Stipeae
The Stipeae are a tribe of grasses within the subfamily Pooidae, with up to 600 described species.
Description
The defining morphological features of the Stipeae include single-flowered spikelets lacking a rachilla extension, and the lemmas ( ...
, which also contains many species formerly assigned to ''Stipa'', which have since been reclassified into new genera.
Many species are important forage
Forage is a plant material (mainly plant leaves and stems) eaten by grazing livestock. Historically, the term ''forage'' has meant only plants eaten by the animals directly as pasture, crop residue, or immature cereal crops, but it is also used m ...
crops. Several species such as ''Stipa brachytricha'', ''S. arundinacea'', ''S. splendens'', ''S. calamagrostis'', ''S. gigantea'' and ''S. pulchra'' are used as ornamental plant
Ornamental plants or ''garden plants'' are plants that are primarily grown for their beauty but also for qualities such as scent or how they shape physical space. Many flowering plants and garden varieties tend to be specially bred cultivars th ...
s. One former species, esparto
Esparto, halfah grass, or esparto grass is a fiber produced from two species of perennial grasses of north Africa, Spain and Portugal. It is used for crafts, such as cords, basketry, and espadrilles. '' Stipa tenacissima'' and '' Lygeum spar ...
grass (''Macrochloa tenacissima
''Stipa tenacissima'' (esparto, esparto grass, halfah grass, alfa grass, or needle grass) is a perennial grass of northwestern Africa and the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula.
Distribution
''Stipa tenacissima'' is an endemic species of th ...
''), is used for craft
A craft or trade is a pastime or an occupation that requires particular skills and knowledge of skilled work. In a historical sense, particularly the Middle Ages and earlier, the term is usually applied to people occupied in small scale pr ...
s and extensively in paper
Paper is a thin sheet material produced by mechanically or chemically processing cellulose fibres derived from wood, Textile, rags, poaceae, grasses, Feces#Other uses, herbivore dung, or other vegetable sources in water. Once the water is dra ...
making.
It is a coarse grass with inrolled leaves and a panicle
In botany, a panicle is a much-branched inflorescence. (softcover ). Some authors distinguish it from a compound spike inflorescence, by requiring that the flowers (and fruit) be pedicellate (having a single stem per flower). The branches of a p ...
patterned inflorescence
In botany, an inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a plant's Plant stem, stem that is composed of a main branch or a system of branches. An inflorescence is categorized on the basis of the arrangement of flowers on a mai ...
.
Ecology
Species of the genus ''Stipa'' can occur in grassland
A grassland is an area where the vegetation is dominance (ecology), dominated by grasses (Poaceae). However, sedge (Cyperaceae) and rush (Juncaceae) can also be found along with variable proportions of legumes such as clover, and other Herbaceo ...
s or in savanna
A savanna or savannah is a mixed woodland-grassland (i.e. grassy woodland) biome and ecosystem characterised by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The open canopy allows sufficient light to reach th ...
habitat
In ecology, habitat refers to the array of resources, biotic factors that are present in an area, such as to support the survival and reproduction of a particular species. A species' habitat can be seen as the physical manifestation of its ...
s. Certain specific prairie
Prairies are ecosystems considered part of the temperate grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome by ecologists, based on similar temperate climates, moderate rainfall, and a composition of grasses, herbs, and shrubs, rather than trees, as the ...
plant associations are dominated by grasses of the genus ''Stipa'', which genus often lends its name to the terminology of some prairie types. In some areas of the western United States grasses of the genus ''Stipa'' form a significant part of the understory of Blue Oak
''Quercus douglasii'', known as blue oak, is a species of oak endemic to California, common in the Coast Ranges and the foothills of the Sierra Nevada. It is California's most drought-tolerant deciduous oak, and is a dominant species in the b ...
savannas, and were even a more important element prehistoric
Prehistory, also called pre-literary history, is the period of human history between the first known use of stone tools by hominins million years ago and the beginning of recorded history with the invention of writing systems. The use o ...
ally before the invasion of many European grasses.
Species
141 species are currently accepted.[
*'']Stipa academica
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*''Stipa × adamii
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*''Stipa adoxa
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*''Stipa aktauensis
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*''Stipa × alaica
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*''Stipa × albasiensis
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of large Perennial plant, perennial hermaphrodite, hermaphroditic grasses collectively known as feather grass, needle grass, and spear grass. They are placed in the subfamily Pooideae and the tribe Stipeae, w ...
''
*''Stipa aliena
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of large Perennial plant, perennial hermaphrodite, hermaphroditic grasses collectively known as feather grass, needle grass, and spear grass. They are placed in the subfamily Pooideae and the tribe Stipeae, w ...
''
*''Stipa almeriensis
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*'' Stipa annua''
*'' Stipa apertifolia''
*''Stipa arabica
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*''Stipa araxensis
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*''Stipa arenosa
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*''Stipa argillosa
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*'' Stipa asperella''
*'' Stipa × assyriaca''
*'' Stipa atlantica''
*''Stipa austroaltaica
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*'' Stipa austroitalica''
*''Stipa austromongolica
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*''Stipa badachschanica
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*'' Stipa baicalensis'' Roshev.
*'' Stipa balansae''
*'' Stipa × balkanabatica''
*''Stipa barbata
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
'' Desf.
*''Stipa barrancaensis
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*''Stipa basiplumosa
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*'' Stipa bavarica''
*'' Stipa baxoiensis''
*'' Stipa borysthenica''
*'' Stipa brachyptera''
*'' Stipa × brevicallosa''
*'' Stipa breviflora''
*''Stipa breviseta
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*'' Stipa × brozhiana''
*'' Stipa bungeana''
*'' Stipa capillacea''
*'' Stipa capillata'' L.
*'' Stipa caucasica''
*'' Stipa × consanguinea''
*'' Stipa cretacea''
*'' Stipa × czerepanovii''
*'' Stipa daghestanica''
*'' Stipa dasyphylla''
*'' Stipa dasyvaginata''
*'' Stipa diastrophica''
*''Stipa dickorei
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*'' Stipa donetzica''
*'' Stipa dregeana''
*'' Stipa drobovii''
*'' Stipa durifolia''
*'' Stipa × dzungarica''
*''Stipa ehrenbergiana
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*'' Stipa endotricha''
*'' Stipa × fallacina''
*'' Stipa × fallax''
*''Stipa feltrina
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*'' Stipa gaubae''
*'' Stipa × gegarkunii''
*'' Stipa glareosa''
*'' Stipa × gnezdilloi''
*'' Stipa gracilis''
*'' Stipa grandis'' P.A.Smirn.
*'' Stipa hans-meyeri''
*'' Stipa henryi''
*'' Stipa × heptapotamica''
*'' Stipa himalaica''
*'' Stipa × hissarica''
*'' Stipa hoggarensis''
*'' Stipa hohenackeriana''
*'' Stipa holosericea''
*'' Stipa iberica''
*'' Stipa illimanica''
*'' Stipa iranica''
*'' Stipa isoldeae''
*'' Stipa issaevii''
*'' Stipa juncea''
*''Stipa juncoides
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*'' Stipa × kamelinii''
*'' Stipa karakabinica''
*'' Stipa karataviensis''
*'' Stipa karjaginii''
*''Stipa kempirica
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*''Stipa keniensis
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*'' Stipa khovdensis''
*'' Stipa kirghisorum''
*'' Stipa klimesii''
*''Stipa korshinskyi
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of large perennial hermaphroditic grass
Poaceae ( ), also called Gramineae ( ), is a large and nearly ubiquitous family (biology), family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. I ...
''
*'' Stipa kotuchovii''
*'' Stipa krylovii''
*'' Stipa × ladakhensis''
*'' Stipa lagascae''
*'' Stipa larisae''
*'' Stipa leptogluma''
*'' Stipa lessingiana''
*'' Stipa letourneuxii''
*'' Stipa lingua''
*'' Stipa lipskyi''
*''Stipa longiplumosa
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*'' Stipa macbridei''
*''Stipa macroglossa
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*''Stipa magnifica
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*'' Stipa × majalis''
*'' Stipa × manrakica''
*'' Stipa margelanica''
*''Stipa martinovskyi
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*'' Stipa mayeri''
*''Stipa media
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*'' Stipa meridionalis''
*'' Stipa milleana''
*'' Stipa mongolorum''
*'' Stipa munroana''
*''Stipa nachiczevanica
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*'' Stipa narynica''
*'' Stipa nitens''
*''Stipa novakii
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*'' Stipa offneri''
*'' Stipa okmirii''
*''Stipa orientalis
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*'' Stipa ovczinnikovii''
*'' Stipa penicillata''
*'' Stipa pennata'' L. – feather grass
*'' Stipa pulcherrima''
*''Stipa pungens
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*'' Stipa purpurea''
*'' Stipa rechingeri''
*''Stipa regeliana
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*'' Stipa richteriana''
*'' Stipa roborowskyi''
*'' Stipa rohmooiana''
*'' Stipa rosea''
*'' Stipa sareptana''
*''Stipa scholzii
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*''Stipa scirpea
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*'' Stipa sczerbakovii''
*'' Stipa shanxiensis''
*'' Stipa sicula''
*'' Stipa sosnowskyi''
*'' Stipa subaristata''
*'' Stipa × subdrobovii''
*'' Stipa subplumosa''
*'' Stipa subsessiliflora''
*'' Stipa syreistschikowii''
*'' Stipa × tadzhikistanica''
*''Stipa × talassica
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*'' Stipa tianschanica''
*'' Stipa tigrensis''
*'' Stipa tirsa'' Steven
*''Stipa tortuosa
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*''Stipa transcarpatica
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of large Perennial plant, perennial hermaphrodite, hermaphroditic grasses collectively known as feather grass, needle grass, and spear grass. They are placed in the subfamily Pooideae and the tribe Stipeae, w ...
''
*''Stipa tremula
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of large Perennial plant, perennial hermaphrodite, hermaphroditic grasses collectively known as feather grass, needle grass, and spear grass. They are placed in the subfamily Pooideae and the tribe Stipeae, w ...
''
*''Stipa trichoides
''Stipa'' is a genus of 141 species of 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 ...
''
*'' Stipa tulcanensis'' (unplaced
In biological classification, a ''species inquirenda'' is a species of doubtful identity requiring further investigation. The use of the term in English-language biological literature dates back to at least the early nineteenth century.
The ter ...
)
*'' Stipa turkestanica'' Hack.
*'' Stipa × tzveleviana''
*'' Stipa × tzvelevii''
*'' Stipa ucrainica''
*'' Stipa × zaissanica''
*'' Stipa zalesskii'' Wilensky
*'' Stipa zeravshanica''
*'' Stipa zhadaensis''
*'' Stipa zuvantica''
Formerly placed here
*'' Achnatherum calamagrostis'' (L.) P.Beauv. (as ''S. calamagrostis'' (L.) Wahlenb.)
*'' Achnatherum robustum'' (Vasey) Barkworth (as ''S. robusta'' (Vasey) Scribn.)
*''Anemanthele lessoniana
''Anemanthele'' is a genus of plants in the grass family native to New Zealand.
The only known species is ''Anemanthele lessoniana'', often called gossamer grass or New Zealand wind grass or pheasant's tail grass. This is a naturally rare gra ...
'' (as ''Stipa arundinacea'' Hook.f.)
*'' Celtica gigantea'' (Link) F. M. Vazquez & Barkworth (as ''S. gigantea'' Link)
*''Eriocoma arida
''Eriocoma arida'' is a species of Poaceae, grass known by the common name Mormon needlegrass. It is native to the southwestern United States and northeastern Mexico.
Description
''Eriocoma arida'' is a tuft-forming perennial bunchgrass without ...
'' (as ''Stipa arida'' and ''S. mormonum'' )
*''Eriocoma hymenoides
''Eriocoma hymenoides'' (common names: Indian ricegrass and sand rice grass) is a cool-season, perennial bunchgrass. It is native to western North America.
Description
In the wild, ''Eriocoma hymenoides'' typically grows tall and wide.Tirmen ...
'' (as ''S. hymenoides'' )
*'' Hesperostipa comata'' (as ''Stipa comata'' )
*'' Hesperostipa spartea'' (as ''Stipa spartea'' Trin.)
*''Jarava ichu
''Jarava ichu'', commonly known as Peruvian feathergrass, ''ichhu'', ''paja brava'', ''paja ichu'', or simply ''ichu'' (Quechua for straw), is a grass species in the family Poaceae native to the Americas. It is found growing in a vast area: Mexic ...
'' Ruiz & Pav. (as ''S. ichu'' (Ruiz & Pav.) Kunth)
*''Macrochloa tenacissima
''Stipa tenacissima'' (esparto, esparto grass, halfah grass, alfa grass, or needle grass) is a perennial grass of northwestern Africa and the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula.
Distribution
''Stipa tenacissima'' is an endemic species of th ...
'' (Loefl. ex L.) Kunth (as ''S. tenacissima'' Loefl. ex L.)
*'' Nassella hyalina'' (as ''Stipa hyalina'' and ''S. avenacea'' )
*''Nassella leucotricha
''Nassella leucotricha'' is a species of grass known by the common names Texas wintergrass, Texas needlegrass, and Texas tussockgrass. It is native to the south-central United States (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi) and much of ...
'' (Trin. & Rupr.) R.W.Pohl (as ''S. leucotricha'' Trin. & Rupr.)
*'' Nassella mexicana'' (as ''Stipa mexicana'' )
*'' Nassella pulchra'' (Hitchc.) Barkworth (as ''S. pulchra'' Hitchc.)
*'' Nassella viridula'' (as ''S. viridula'' Trin.)
*'' Neotrinia splendens'' (Trin.) M.Nobis, P.D.Gudkova & A.Nowak (as ''S. splendens'' Trin.)
*'' Pappostipa speciosa'' (as ''Stipa speciosa'' )
*'' Patis coreana'' (as ''Stipa coreana'' Honda) – Korean needlegrass
*'' Piptochaetium avenaceum'' (as ''Stipa avenacea'' )
*'' Piptochaetium virescens'' (as ''Stipa virescens'' and ''S. avenacea'' )
*'' Stipellula capensis'' (as ''Stipa capensis'' )
See also
* ''Nassella
''Nassella'', or needlegrass, is a New World genus of over 100 perennial bunchgrasses found from North America through South America. The Latin word ''nassa'' refers to "a basket with a narrow neck". It is usually considered segregate from the ge ...
''
References
External links
*
*
{{Authority control
Poaceae genera