A preliminary study on the classification, distribution and ecological nature of genus Stipa L. of China

Kuo Pen-Chao, Sun Yong-Hua

Received:1900-01-01 Revised:1900-01-01 Online:1982-02-18 Published:1982-02-18
Contact: Kuo Pen-Chao

Abstract:

24 species and 4 varietes of genus Stipa L. of China have been studied and des-

cribed in this paper. It has been noted that these different species have various

geographical distributions, depending on the changes of climatic and edaphic factors

of their environments. Based on the study of floral morphology together with ecolo-

gical and distributional factors, the genus have been divided into 5 sections: 1. Sect.

Regelia Tzvel. 2. Sect. Leiostipa Dum. 3. Sect. Barbatae Junge 4. Sect. Stipa 5. Sect.

Smirnovia Tzvel.

It should be pointed out that the section Regelia as well as two members of sec-

tion Barbatae, S. purpurea and S. roborowskyi, belong to frigori-xerophilous ecotype,

distributing over Qinghai-Xizang Plateau above the forest line. The section Leiostipa

belongs to euxerophilous and mesoxerophilous ecotype, distributing widely in north-

west, southwest, northeast and east and extends to the forest-steppe vegetational Zone

of China. The section Smirnovia and other two members of section Barbatae, S.

breviflora and S. orientalis, belong to euxerophilous ecotype, with the latitudinal dis-

tribution as far as Nei-Mongo and the yellow soil plateau, with the altitudinal distribu-

tion as far as the desert steppe of Sinkang and Qinghai-Xizang plateau. The section

Stipa belongs to euxerophilous ecotype, only distributes to the mountain steppe of

north Xingkang and the last, section Barbatae is an artificial group having plumes over

of the awn only, and its four species have already been mentioned above.

Kuo Pen-Chao, Sun Yong-Hua. A preliminary study on the classification, distribution and ecological nature of genus Stipa L. of China[J]. .

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